During a closed-door meeting of the Freedom Caucus Monday evening, a number of lawmakers in the powerful group adamantly called for members to come out in defense of Sanford and condemn president’s repeated attacks against one of their own.

Caucus Chairman Mark Meadows (R-N.C.) said the group stands by Sanford, who lost his reelection primary against state lawmaker Katie Arrington hours after the president tweeted his endorsement of Arrington.

“Everybody in there is very supportive of Mark Sanford, and I think that’s one of the things that overwhelmingly they believe that the president is getting bad political advice,” he said.