(The Center Square) – President Donald Trump waded into Virginia’s governor’s race Sunday night, praising Republican Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears but stopping short of a formal endorsement, while also weighing in on the attorney general’s race.
Speaking to reporters on Air Force One, Trump said, “I think the Republican candidate is very good and I think she should, she should win because the Democrat candidate’s a disaster.”
“So I haven’t been too much involved in Virginia,” he said. “I love the state. I did very well in the state. But I will tell you, I think the Republican candidate is excellent and I think the Democrat candidate is a disaster.”
“I mean, I watched her in the debate. She couldn’t answer the most basic question,” Trump said.
“And you know, a big thing with that race and also the race in New Jersey is going to be energy,” he continued. “Both of the Democrats are going to drive the energy prices through the roof, through the roof.”
“Your energy is going to double and triple. If the Republican gets elected, your energy is going to be coming down by 70, 80%.”
While Trump clearly praised Earle-Sears and encouraged Virginians to vote for her, he did not issue a formal endorsement or statement of support through his campaign.
During the same exchange, Trump turned to the attorney general race.
“The one that wanted to kill somebody’s children and kill somebody, you mean the animal that wanted to kill somebody, who should not be allowed to be running for that office?” he said.
“I’ve never seen anybody say what he said, that he wanted to kill his opponent’s children. He wanted to kill his opponent,” he added.
“Now, I can’t imagine anybody voted for Jay Jones,” Trump continued. “You would think he’s totally discredited. I wouldn’t think he would even be allowed to do that. Anybody would be put in prison for what he said.”
“So he could join a long list of attorney generals that have been suing and losing,” Trump said. “But the people of this country want law, they want order, they want safety. They don’t want to be mugged or raped or shot.”
Earle-Sears’ campaign provided a statement to The Center Square, saying, “I am deeply grateful for President Trump’s support and his direct encouragement to voters in Virginia to vote Republican. We must ensure Virginia is the best place to live, work, and raise a family, and with President Trump, I’ll fight to keep energy costs low, keep our families safe, and defend our commonsense values.”
Trump’s comments come just weeks after Jay Jones’ 2022 text messages were released, sparking backlash across Virginia politics.
Speaking of endorsements, Jones released a new campaign video Monday saying, “Jason Miyares is the only candidate that has Trump’s complete and total endorsement.”
In the video, Jones continued, “No one has done more for Trump’s agenda in Virginia than Jason Miyares. Workers fired, prices soaring, health care slashed, and Jason Miyares cheers him on, even pushing for a Virginia abortion ban.”
“Jason Miyares is Trump’s attorney, not ours,” Jones said.
Trump has already endorsed Attorney General Jason Miyares, who is running for a second term.
Maggie Amjad, spokesperson for the Democratic Party of Virginia, told The Center Square that Earle-Sears “has shown Virginians that no matter what, she’ll always put her loyalty to Donald Trump and support of his reckless policies first — even when it threatens Virginia’s workforce and raises costs for families.”
Amjad added that “while months of backing Trump’s reckless agenda still hasn’t earned Sears his endorsement, that isn’t stopping her from continuing to sell the Commonwealth out to appease him.”
Election Day in Virginia is Nov. 4.
