A GOP congressmans effort to get Rep. Maxine Waters (D-Calif.) to condemn socialism failed spectacularly on Wednesday when she gave the same response, over and over again, to his questions about communist dictators: Donald Trump loves these guys.

Rep. Guy Reschenthaler (R-Pa.) went after Waters during a House Rules Committee hearing on a resolution that denounces socialism in all its forms, and opposes the implementation of socialist policies in the United States of America. Its a nonbinding measure , but Republicans decided it is a priority to send the message that dictators like Joseph Stalin, Mao Zedong and Kim Jong II were bad.

The problem for the GOP is that Trump, who remains their partys presidential front-runner despite inciting an insurrection after he lost the 2020 election, openly admires dictators like Kim Jong Un, Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping. Republicans know this, but they werent ready for Waters to relentlessly call them out on it in Wednesdays hearing.

The American public is going to wonder why Republicans are wasting our time today with this divisive resolution instead of focusing on the real threats to our economy and democracy, Waters told the panel, speaking in her role as the ranking Democrat on the Financial Services Committee. What is this all about? Is it about saying you want to cut Social Security? You want to cut Medicare? You dont care about the debt ceiling? Please.

You cant condemn socialism? Reschenthaler said. In your opening remarks, you were talking about Putin, Kim Jong Un and Xi. You know what they all have in common, right?

Trump, Waters said flatly to a few laughs in the room.

Trump? Reschenthaler said. North Korea, China and Russia?

He loves Kim Jong Un, Waters said, who is condemned in the resolution. Regarding North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, Trump said Kim wrote me beautiful letters, and theyre great letters and we fell in love. You sure you want to hear the rest of this?

Reschenthaler tried to pivot by suddenly talking about former Chinese communist revolutionary Mao Zedong being responsible for tens of millions of people starving to death. Do you denounce that? he asked Waters.

But Trump loves him, she replied. Thats your leader.

Do you denounce the genocide and starvation in communist China? he shot back.

Trump is your leader, Waters continued. He speaks for you. He says he loves him.