Former President Donald Trump endorsed the primary challenger against House Freedom Caucus Chairman Bob Good, R-Va., saying the congressman “turned his back on our incredible movement.”
Trump posted on his Truth Social social media platform Tuesday morning that he supported the state senator. John McGuire, who is challenging Good in a June 18 primary. Trump made a veiled reference to the fact that Good was one of the few members of Congress to support the Florida governor. Ron DeSantis during the presidential primary, writing that Good “constantly attacked and fought me until recently.”
Good endorsed Trump in January, but the former president wrote that it was “too late.”
“The damage had been done!” Trump added. “I just want to make America great again, and the person who can most help me do that is Navy Seal and highly respected state legislator John McGuire, a true American hero.”
Good’s campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment. But his campaign website currently suggests that Trump actually supports him, including Trump in a section titled “Who Supports Bob” – but listing Trump’s support as of 2022.
McGuire praised Trump’s support, thanking the former president in an article on and writing: “We can do better than good.”
Both McGuire and Good appeared to be seeking support from Trump in recent days, with both men traveling to New York earlier this month to support Trump amid his ongoing trial in a hush money case.
Trump’s support is coveted in the Republican primaries, with the Republican base fiercely loyal to the former president. But some have overcome challenges from Trump in the past, including Rep. Washington state’s Dan Newhouse, who again faces a Trump-backed challenger, and Republican Rep. Nancy Mace of South Carolina, who supported Trump this year. Good himself ousted the former GOP representative. Denver Riggleman in 2020, even though Riggleman had Trump’s support in the race.
Riggleman later worked as an advisor to the House committee investigating the events of January. December 6, 2021, Capitol riot and Trump’s role in the event.
The primary in Virginia’s 5th District, a deep red seat that includes Charlottesville and extends to the state’s southern border, has attracted plenty of outside spending. Republican groups spent nearly $10.7 million on ads during the race, according to ad tracking company AdImpact. Good also drew the ire of his fellow Republicans after voting last year for former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy.