In a fiery campaign rally in Atlanta on Saturday, former President Donald Trump took aim at popular Republican Governor Brian Kemp, stirring discontent among some GOP leaders at a time when party unity is considered crucial to defeating Kamala Harris in the upcoming election.
Trump vs. Kemp: A Brewing Battle
Trump's sharp criticism of Kemp led to outrage within Republican circles, with one GOP leader exclaiming, “Trump may have just lost Georgia!” Another called the move “bats**t crazy,” expressing disbelief at Trump's ongoing feud with the governor.
Several party officials, as reported by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution and Politico, echoed these sentiments. They expressed bewilderment and frustration at what they perceived as Trump's “pettiness.”
Why Target a Popular Republican Governor?
Mediaite reports on Trump's decision to reopen old wounds:
During the rally, Trump told his supporters that Kemp is “a bad guy, he's a disloyal guy and he's a very average governor.” He added that on Kemp's watch, Georgia has “gone to hell.”
The former president's feud with Gov. Kemp has been simmering since the 2020 election. Trump has baselessly claimed the state's election was rigged, and has blamed the governor for his loss. Trump is currently facing criminal charges in connection with an election fraud scheme in Fulton County, GA.
Trump's attacks on Kemp — whose approval rating clocked in at 63 percent in a recent poll, making him one of the most popular governors in the country — did not sit well with key Republicans in the state.
“Attacking the popular governor of a pivotal swing state makes zero sense,” said Bobby Saparow, Kemp's former campaign manager, in an interview with Politico. “If we want to actually unite, ask for the support of the guy who beat your endorsed primary opponent by 52 points and handily defeated Stacey Abrams.”
Social conservative leader and Georgia native Cole Muzio echoed similar concerns: “The stakes are too high for pettiness – and for the candidate to actively undermine his own chances.” Muzio emphasized the importance of party unity in a tweet, stating, “We have a national imperative to ensure that Kamala Harris is never POTUS. This isn't about one person, ticket, or party. It's about our country. That's why we have to be willing to hold high standards for Trump and the campaign on message and discipline. America is at stake.”
Potential Impact on Georgia Voters
A Georgia GOP official, speaking anonymously to Politico, highlighted the risk of alienating moderate Republican voters: “I think the more important point is that you're trying to unify your party and you personally attack the most popular politician in the state who has said he's supporting you.”
Former Georgia state Rep. Allen Peake expressed his frustration to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution: “A lot of republicans like me might just decide not to vote at all in the presidential election because of stupid antics like tonight. Trump may have just lost Georgia.”
The Polls Reflect a Tight Race
The latest RealClearPolitics polling average shows Trump leading Harris by just 2% in the Peach State, underscoring the importance of every vote in this crucial battleground state.
Have Your Say:
What do you think about Trump's criticism of Governor Kemp?
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With the arrogance of Trump, I may not vote for him. He is a loser and he better figure that out soon, or Harris will beat him in a landslide. He has got to get over the idea that the election was rigged. At the present time he has too much baggage he does’t need more.
I don’t like the fact that Trump talks bad about people but there is a polite way to discuss disagreements but I have contracted with the State in a program called babies Can’t Wait for 24 years and the state has doubled the work but NEVER provided a raise!!!!!
Trump said it right against back stabbers ; the Truth is always Truth !
The left or other similar nuts don’t need to worry about taking Trump out. He will keep shooting himself in the foot and who knows where else. He will also wind up giving the election (and our country) to the Dems just as he did in ’20.
Dear President Trump
I am a maga conservative and will vote for you but I believe that if you keep up this petty nonsense (complaining about Gov. Brian Kemp) you risk losing this election.
Gordon Neill
I think Kemp and Rafsenburger stole their races, also. They are both crooked as a dog’s hind leg!
Leave name-calling and blaming OUT of his messaging. Trump needs to be presidential, and name calling should not be part of his public statements! These critical statements are detrimental to his overall message and appropriate demeanor as a candidate for the leader of the free world! It detracts from him, disgusts many voters, and is totally out of order. His team of advisors should advise him to leave all that pettiness our of any public statements going forward.