At a campaign rally in North Carolina on Saturday, former President Trump praised many of the state's politicians but made no mention of gubernatorial candidate Mark Robinson in the wake of a shocking report alleging the state's Republican lieutenant governor was involved with an adult website.
North Carolina Republican Party Chairman Jason Simmons, Sen. Ted Budd (R-NC), Rep. Dan Bishop (R-NC) and Rep. David Reuzer (R-NC) were among the state lawmakers Trump praised. Trump also mentioned Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Whatley, who previously led the North Carolina Republican Party.
Robinson, who was not scheduled to attend the rally, was excluded from the plaudits.
But the Republican gubernatorial candidate made a stop at a horse race track in Fayetteville, North Carolina, late Saturday.
He denied the CNN report.The video isShortly before CNN published its story, a post by Robinson was published on social platform X, which described statements Robinson made online between 2008 and 2012, including statements in support of slavery and calling himself a “black Nazi.”
Robinson, who is running against state Attorney General Josh Stein (Democrat), criticized his opponent and the media in the video.
“Rest assured, what you see in this article is not the words of Mark Robinson,” he said.
CNNSpoke “This is not us. These are not our words and they do not characterize me,” Robinson said.
Asked if he would deny that the account was his, Robinson said: “Of course I deny it.”
Robinson is an ally of President Trump and has attended other Trump events in the state and has received the president's support.
Trump has not been involved in the controversy.
A Trump campaign spokesman issued a statement that did not mention Robinson but said North Carolina was a “critical part” of the campaign's plan to win the White House.
“We are confident that President Trump will win North Carolina again when voters compare the Trump Administration's record of success — a strong economy, low inflation, secure borders and safe streets — with the failures of a Biden-Harris Administration. We will not take our eyes off this goal,” national spokesperson Caroline Leavitt said in a statement this week.
