Former President Donald Trump recently stated he is “unfamiliar” with the gubernatorial race in North Carolina, where embattled GOP Lieutenant Governor Mark Robinson is running against Democratic Attorney General Josh Stein. This surprising comment was made during a press interaction in Asheville, North Carolina, where Trump emphasized his lack of awareness about the high-profile contest.
“I’m not familiar with the race. I haven’t seen it,” Trump said, as reported by Axios. This statement is particularly notable given that he endorsed Robinson earlier this year and has publicly praised him at several rallies. In a bold declaration, Trump referred to Robinson as “Martin Luther King on steroids.”
Mark Robinson, who gained national attention as a right-wing activist, became lieutenant governor in 2020. His campaign has been marred by a series of controversial remarks made on social media prior to his election. These comments have included endorsements of conspiracy theories, disparagement of school shooting survivors, and even questioning the Holocaust.
The situation escalated in September when CNN revealed that Robinson had made disturbing posts on a pornographic forum, where he referred to himself as a “Black NAZI” and expressed admiration for slavery. This shocking revelation sparked widespread outrage among fellow North Carolina Republicans and led to a significant departure of staff members from Robinson’s office. Current polling indicates that Robinson is losing support as the focus of North Carolina Republicans shifts to the presidential race.
Since the emergence of these allegations, Trump and Robinson have not appeared together at campaign events. Despite this distancing, Trump recently reiterated his support for Robinson, labeling him a “great one” in early October.
North Carolina has become a critical battleground state in the upcoming 2024 elections, with polls indicating a competitive presidential race. Historically, the state has leaned toward Trump in the last two presidential elections, making Robinson’s gubernatorial bid even more significant as the GOP seeks to maintain influence in the region.
As the campaign progresses, all eyes will be on how Robinson’s controversies impact his chances and what role Trump may ultimately play in the election’s outcome.
