Former President Donald Trump won’t be on the ballot in Virginia when voters go to the polls next Tuesday, but his power as kingmaker will be.
Back in May, Trump endorsed Republican gubernatorial candidate Glenn Youngkin.
“Congratulations to Glenn Youngkin for winning the Republican nomination for Governor of Virginia,” Trump said in a full-throated endorsement. “Glenn is pro-Business, pro-Second Amendment, pro-Veterans, pro-America, he knows how to make Virginia’s economy rip-roaring, and he has my Complete and Total Endorsement!”
“Glenn is running against Bill Clinton’s longtime enabler, Terry McAuliffe. Terry McAuliffe was the Clintons’ bagman in more ways than one, from the cover-ups to the get-rich-quick schemes, and his deals with Communist China look suspicious. He was responsible for many of the problems Virginia currently has. Virginia doesn’t need the Clintons or the Communist Chinese running the state, so say no to Terry McAuliffe, and yes to Patriot Glenn Youngkin!” Trump said.
Youngkin accepted the endorsement but isn’t firmly embracing the divisive former president, who has not joined the Republican at a campaign rally. In fact, Youngkin skipped a “Take Back Virginia Rally” rally in May that was hosted by former Trump adviser Steve Bannon, according to NBC News. Trump called in by phone to urge the crowd to vote for Youngkin.
Although Youngkin has steadfastly avoided direct criticism of Trump — who is still wildly popular in Virginia — he did put some distance between himself and Trump on the 2020 election, which the former president claims was stolen.
“There wasn’t material fraud, and I believe that the election was certifiably fair,” Youngkin said in the first gubernatorial debate in April.
Still, the mainstream media are making every effort to tie the two together, following the endless claims by McAuliffe and his top surrogates that the pair are one and the same.