Reacting to the Indiana Senate's decision not to redistrict, President Donald Trump said "it would have been nice" but claimed he "wasn't working on it very hard."

In fact, Trump had personally pitched Republican state senators on the plan and posted on social media urging the lawmakers to support it. He threatened primary challengers against any who defied him.

Trump said in the Oval Office on Thursday that he would support anyone who wanted to challenge the state Senate president for his seat next year.

The vote was overwhelmingly against the proposed redistricting, with more Republicans opposing than supporting the measure, signaling the limits of Trump's influence even in one of the country's most conservative states.

Trump has been urging Republicans nationwide to redraw their congressional maps in an unusual campaign to help the party maintain its thin majority in the House of Representatives. Although Texas, Missouri, Ohio and North Carolina went along, Indiana did not — despite cajoling and insults from the president and the possibility of primary challenges.