Former President Trump announced on Tuesday that he was endorsing Virginia Sen. John Maguire, the primary challenger to Rep. Bob Good (R-Va.), who is seeking to unseat the incumbent in the June 18 primary.
Good, who chairs the conservative House Freedom Caucus, initially supported Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’ (R) presidential bid, becoming one of the few Republican leaders to back a candidate other than Trump in the race.
Once DeSantis finished his campaign, Good quickly endorsed Trump, vowing to work hard to get the former president elected to another term in the White House.
in Posted on Tuesday However, Trump slammed the sitting president and said Good’s endorsement was “long overdue,” according to Truth Social.
“Bob Goode is bad for Virginia and bad for America,” the presumptive Republican presidential nominee said in a statement. “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. The damage has already been done!”
“I just want to Make America Great Again and no one can help me do that better than a Navy SEAL, highly respected state legislator and true American hero, John Maguire,” he added.
Goode has been careful not to criticize the former president, but in recent months he has been at odds with Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.), one of Trump’s closest allies in the House.
Greene has criticized Goode for supporting the effort that led to the historic ouster of former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) from his leadership position and for what she felt was a lack of loyalty to the former president.
Maguire, in a statement issued through a spokesman, echoed similar sentiments and said Trump sees himself as a true “MAGA candidate.”
“I want to thank President Donald J. Trump for supporting my campaign for Congress. I have been with Trump since he came down the escalator, and if I become a Congressman, I will support his policies and put America First!” Maguire said in a statement.
“Trump is absolutely right about Bob Good,” he continued. “Our country is in grave danger under Biden and we need Trump to save America. Bob Good cannot be trusted. Trump has recognized that I am 100% the MAGA candidate in this race, and I appreciate that. I will do everything in my power to effectively and aggressively represent the 5th District.”
In recent weeks, both candidates I tried to label He endorsed the other as a “RINO” (Republican in name only) candidate and expressed his support for the former president.
On May 16, the two appeared in court with Trump in New York to show solidarity with him as he faces the first criminal trial over hush money paid to pornography actors ahead of the 2016 presidential election.
Good told The Hill that he believes he will be renominated because the people of Virginia’s 5th District know him “better than anyone” and that “they understand and appreciate the work I’ve done to fight for them during my three years in Washington.”
He also said he has the support of grassroots Republican leaders and local elected officials, “America First patriots and brave conservative warriors,” as well as several conservative groups.
“They all know that I am a true conservative in this race, committed to reversing Biden’s policies and making America great again like it was in President Trump’s first term,” he said.
This story was updated at 10:14 p.m.
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