Former President Trump’s campaign sent a letter to the re-election campaign of House Freedom Caucus Chairman Bob Good (R-VA) ordering them to stop producing yard signs and other merchandise that imply support for the congressman.
The Trump campaign sent the letter on Friday, a senior Trump campaign official confirmed to The Hill, after Goode’s campaign used the former president’s image, name and past endorsements of the candidate to boost Goode’s chances of reelection.
“To be clear, neither you nor your campaign organization have the authority to use President Trump or the campaign organization’s name to falsely suggest that they endorse your candidacy,” attorney David Warrington said in the letter obtained by The Hill. “Nor do you or your campaign organization have the authority to claim that you represent or are in any way associated with President Trump or the campaign organization.”
The letter came just days after President Trump announced his support for Good’s primary opponent, Virginia Sen. John Maguire, who is seeking to defeat the congressman in the June 18 primary.
“Creating and posting materials that give the false impression that President Trump endorses your candidacy constitutes a fraudulent act against the voters of Virginia’s 5th Congressional District,” the letter said, which also included a photo of a campaign poster with Trump’s name directly above Goode’s.
“Making false statements like this is an abuse of voters’ trust,” Warrington added. “Furthermore, if you use President Trump’s name, image or likeness in fundraising materials to suggest he endorses your campaign, that is a fraudulent act against donors.”
In endorsing Maguire on TruthSocial on Tuesday, President Trump noted Good’s support for Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis in the 2024 Republican presidential primary.
After DeSantis dropped out of the race, the chairman of the House Freedom Caucus flipped to Trump and vowed to vote for him in November’s general election.
“Bob Goode is bad for Virginia and bad for America,” Trump said. “He turned his back on our great movement and has continued to attack and fight me until recently offering his warm and ‘loving’ endorsement. But the reality is, it’s too late now. The damage has already been done!”
The Virginia Republican Party’s website lists endorsements from other lawmakers, including Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) and Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.), but makes no mention of the former president.
Goode has been an outspoken supporter of Trump, traveling to New York in mid-May to speak in support at a Manhattan courthouse after the former president was ultimately convicted on all 34 charges in the hush money case on Thursday.
The Hill has reached out to Good’s campaign for comment.
