In a late-night Twitter post, former President Donald Trump criticized Texas Representative Chip Roy and called for a primary challenge against him, labeling him a "RINO" (Republican in name only). However, Trump's demand faced an obstacle as the filing deadline for the primary had already passed on December 11, leaving no serious contenders to challenge Roy.

Known for his strong conservative stance, the 51-year-old Roy is a prominent member of the ultra-conservative House Freedom Caucus. According to FiveThirtyEight, he has only aligned with President Biden's position a mere 2% of the time.

Roy's support of Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has also caught Trump's attention. Roy was the first member of Congress to endorse DeSantis for president, and on Monday, he campaigned with him in Iowa. Governor DeSantis swiftly defended Roy, highlighting his commitment to securing the southern border and criticizing Trump's call for a primary challenge after the filing deadline had passed: "Even though the Texas primary filing deadline was over a week ago, the former president is on social media demanding a primary challenge to one of the most conservative members of Congress."

During a recent Fox News interview, Roy indirectly criticized Trump's approach to immigration, recalling Trump's support for an "amnesty-first" bill in 2018 that prioritized comprehensive immigration reform over border security. Roy indicated that this legislation contributed to the current immigration situation.

While Trump remains the frontrunner for the 2024 GOP presidential nomination, Roy is seeking a fourth House term representing Texas' 21st District, which covers parts of south-central Texas including suburbs of Austin and San Antonio. As of now, Roy's campaign has not provided a comment in response to Trump's remarks.

The history between Trump and Roy has been marked by clashes in the past. Roy broke from Trump's allies and voted to certify President Biden's victory in the 2020 election. He also criticized Trump's actions as "clearly impeachable conduct" but ultimately voted against impeachment.

With the absence of serious contenders for the primary, it remains to be seen how Trump's call for a challenge against Chip Roy will play out. As the political landscape continues to evolve, both individuals will navigate their respective paths with an eye towards the future.