House Divided: Don Jr. Praises Governor Hopeful Running Against Trump’s Pick

President Donald Trump and his son appear to be rooting for different candidates to be the next governor of Georgia ahead of Tuesday’s runoff election.

Trump endorsed Lieutenant Governor Burt Jones, but on Monday, Donald Trump Jr. put out a statement praising Jones’ rival, Rick Jackson. Trump Jr. clarified that his post was not an endorsement.

“Regardless of what happens in the Georgia Governor’s race tomorrow, we should celebrate the patriots building up MAGA and an America First economy like Rick Jackson has,” Trump Jr. wrote. 

“When China threatened our amoxicillin supply, Rick saved the last amoxicillin manufacturing facility in America because he knows we can’t let China control our entire supply of antibiotics,” he added. “When the U.S. faced an oil refining shortage and the woke banks wouldn’t finance a new one, Rick stepped up again and became the largest outside investor. This has been a hard-fought race with a lot of mudslinging, but I know Rick Jackson to be a good man and that counts for a lot.”

Trump Jr. added that either outcome would be a win for conservatives. “By the way, this is not an endorsement of Rick and I think Burt Jones is a great guy too. My only point is that no matter who wins tomorrow, it’s a victory for MAGA.”

President Trump endorsed Jones last summer and then reaffirmed his endorsement in a post on Truth Social in March.

“Hello Georgia. I am thrilled to give my complete and total endorsement to my good friend and your next Governor Burt Jones. He is fantastic. He’s done a great job,” said Trump in a video endorsement.

President Trump and Georgia’s current Republican governor, Brian Kemp, have had a tumultuous relationship. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Kemp was the first governor to reopen the state in late April of 2020, just weeks after the emergency lockdown was called.

At the time, Trump had urged Kemp to wait, but Kemp diverged from the president and reopened Georgia. It would not be the last time Kemp went against Trump’s wishes. The governor also certified the 2020 presidential election results from Georgia despite Trump’s objections, securing 16 electoral votes for then-Democratic nominee Joe Biden. Kemp, who is term-limited, also endorsed Jones.

The Kalshi prediction market favors Jones over Jackson in the runoff. The winner will face Democratic nominee and former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms.

Jones, once a prominent oil executive, has served as the state’s lieutenant governor for the last three years. Jackson, like the president himself, is a self-made billionaire. Jackson grew up in foster care and founded his first healthcare company in the Atlanta area in 1978. He has spent over $100 million of his own money on his race.