Oct 21, 2024 - Politics & Policy

Trump "unfamiliar" with N.C. governor race despite Mark Robinson endorsement

Sareen Habeshian

Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson joins the stage with former U.S. President Donald Trump during a rally at The Farm at 95 on April 9, 2022 in Selma, North Carolina. The rally comes about five weeks before North Carolinas primary elections where Trump has thrown his support behind candidates in some key Republ — Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson with former President Trump during a rally on April 9, 2022, in Selma, N.C. Photo: Allison Joyce/Getty Images

Former President Trump claimed Monday that he's not familiar with the North Carolina governor's race, despite having previously endorsed Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson (R) for the job.

The big picture: Trump's campaign and the GOP have been working to distance the former president from scandal-embroiled Robinson, with North Carolina being a must-win state for the party in the 2024 presidential race.

The Trump campaign did not immediately respond to Axios' request for comment.

Zoom in: Asked by a reporter Monday while visiting Asheville, North Carolina, if he still endorses Robinson, Trump said, "I'm not familiar with the race. I haven't seen it."

Context: CNN reported last month that Robinson referred to himself as a "Black Nazi!" and a "perv" online and expressed support for reinstating slavery.

Trump, who once praised Robinson as "Martin Luther King on steroids," endorsed him for governor months prior to CNN publishing its story.
Trump's campaign told Axios at the time of the report, "This is an issue that has to do with Robinson's campaign and not President Trump's campaign."
Robinson denied the allegations in CNN's report and vowed to stay in the race. He filed a $50 million defamation lawsuit against the network last week.

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Trump "unfamiliar" with N.C. governor race despite Mark Robinson endorsement

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