Trump endorses Robinson in bid for NC governor

Former President Donald Trump endorsed North Carolina Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson Saturday, fulfilling a promise made months ago to the Republican gubernatorial candidate.

The endorsement came during a wide-ranging speech to supporters in Greensboro, where Trump made his pitch on the last day of early voting in the state for why he should win Tuesday’s presidential primary in this swing state.

Robinson is the front-runner for the GOP nomination for governor. The endorsement could pad his lead over Salisbury lawyer Bill Graham and State Treasurer Dale Folwell, who have been gaining on Robinson in recent polls.

Trump has long praised Robinson, a captivating speaker who energizes conservative audiences, but until Saturday he had stopped short of offering an official endorsement in the 2024 race. At the North Carolina GOP convention on June 10, Trump had promised to eventually endorse the lieutenant governor. Days later, Robinson endorsed Trump, who is seeking the Republican nomination for president.

Robinson said he was particularly glad to get Trump’s endorsement in Greensboro, his hometown. “We need more bold fighters like [Trump],” Robinson said in a written statement. “I look forward to partnering with him to take on the failed Biden-Stein agenda.”

The likely Democratic nominees for president and governor are President Joe Biden and North Carolina Attorney General Josh Stein.

Robinson, who became North Carolina's first Black lieutenant governor when he was first elected in 2020, had never held political office before assuming his current role. He was also endorsed late last year by state Senate leader Phil Berger.

“You are outstanding and you're gonna be the next governor,” Trump told Robinson from the stage Saturday after remarking on Robinson’s commanding oratory skills, calling him “Martin Luther King on steroids.” Robinson has previously been highly critical of the civil rights leader, whom he has called a communist, and the Civil Rights movement in general, mourning that “so many rights were lost.”

Trump said Saturday that he still remembers how uncomfortable Robinson looked when he told him the MLK comparison to his face, unsure if he was happy or angry. “And I’ve never figured it out,” Trump added.

Robinson’s campaign declined to comment on those remarks Saturday. But the former president has told the story before, and in the past Robinson has responded that MLK left big shoes to fill.

Like Trump, Robinson is a highly polarizing figure, earning himself staunch critics as well as passionate supporters inside and outside his party. In social media posts and podcast appearances, Robinson has advanced Holocaust denialism and conspiracy theories about Jewish people — a history he’s tried to counteract in recent months with a trip to Israel amid the Israel-Hamas war. Robinson is also vocally anti-gay, telling one church audience in March that the reason God created him was to fight against LGBTQ issues. He enjoys massive support among evangelical Christians and pro-gun activists, two key parts of the GOP base.

Robinson’s Republican primary opponents decried Trump’s support of Robinson.

“Trump doesn't know my work and most likely doesn't know Mark Robinson's track record of fleecing anyone who has ever come in contact with him,” Folwell said, adding that he was focused on getting more votes than Trump in North Carolina in the November general election, “which I've done twice before.”

Alex Baltzegar, a spokesperson for Graham added: “Mark Robinson is going to let President Trump and conservatives down by losing the governor’s race to Democrats [in] November. Like President Trump, Bill is a successful businessman and proven conservative, and he is the only candidate with a plan to win a conservative future for North Carolina.”

A Robinson spokesman declined to comment on the candidates' statements.

Folwell thinks November will be the last opportunity for Republicans to win the governor’s race in North Carolina because of how the party has evolved in recent years. “We cannot be a party of hate,” he said. “We have to be a party of hope. We cannot be a party of rage. We have to be a party of courage. And it's ironic that the word ‘rage’ is inside the word ‘courage’.”

Bishop, others get nods

Trump also reaffirmed his support for several other Republican candidates in statewide and congressional races Saturday.

Trump endorsed U.S. Rep. Dan Bishop, who is running unopposed for the GOP nomination for state Attorney General. Trump had previously endorsed Bishop in his successful 2022 campaign for a congressional seat representing a district east of Charlotte.

He also reaffirmed support for several candidates who he previously endorsed:

• U.S. Rep. Virginia Foxx, who faces challenger Ryan Mayberry in the GOP primary for the 5th Congressional District.
• Lobbyist Addison McDowell in McDowell’s campaign for a Greensboro-area congressional seat. That endorsement was seen as a blow to Bo Hines, who is also seeking the nomination and was endorsed by Trump in 2022. Former U.S. Rep. Mark Walker is also seeking a return to Congress in that district.
• State House Speaker Tim Moore, who Trump endorsed in his bid for the GOP nomination in the state’s 14th Congressional District. Republicans Jeff Gregory and Lillian Joseph are also seeking the nomination in the district, which is to the west of Charlotte.