Former President Trump announced Tuesday that he is endorsing Rep. Bob Good’s (R-Va.) primary challenger, Virginia state Sen. John McGuire, who is looking to unseat the incumbent in the June 18 primary.
Good — who chairs the conservative House Freedom Caucus — initially endorsed Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’s (R) bid for president, becoming one of the rare GOP figures willing to back a candidate other than Trump in the race.
Once DeSantis ended his campaign, Good immediately threw his support behind Trump and has pledged to work to elect the former president to another term in the White House.
In a post Tuesday on Truth Social, however, Trump said Good’s support was “too late,” as he railed against the incumbent.
“Bob Good is BAD FOR VIRGINIA, AND BAD FOR THE USA,” the presumptive GOP presidential nominee wrote in a statement. “He turned his back on our incredible movement, and was constantly attacking and fighting me until recently, when he gave a warm and ‘loving’ Endorsement. But really, it was too late. The damage had been done!”
“I just want to MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN, and the person that can most help me do that is Navy Seal and highly respected State Legislator, John McGuire, a true American Hero,” he added.
Good has been careful not to criticize the former president but, in recent months, has found himself at odds with one of Trump’s closest allies in the House — Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.).
Greene has criticized Good for backing the effort that led to the historic ousting of former Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) from the leadership role, and for what she perceived as a lack of loyalty to the former president.
McGuire, in a statement provided through a spokesperson, echoed that sentiment and said Trump recognized that he was the true “MAGA candidate.”
“Thank you to President Donald J. Trump for endorsing my campaign for Congress! I’ve been with Trump since he came down the escalator and when I’m in Congress, I’ll back his agenda and put America First!” McGuire said in the statement.
“Trump is exactly right about Bob Good,” he continued. “Our country is in dire peril under Biden and we need Trump to Save America. We cannot trust Bob Good. Trump has recognized that I’m the 100% MAGA candidate in this race and I appreciate it. I’m ready to give everything I’ve got to represent the 5th District effectively and aggressively.”
In recent weeks, both candidates have tried to label the other as the “RINO” — Republican in Name Only — candidate and show their support for the former president.
On May 16, they both appeared at the New York courthouse with Trump in a show of solidarity as the former president faces his first criminal trial related to hush money payments made to a porn actor ahead of the 2016 presidential election.
Good told The Hill the people of Virginia’s 5th District know him “better than anyone,” and he believes they will renominate him because “they understand and appreciate that I have fought for them during my 3 years in Washington.”
He also said he has support from grassroots GOP leaders and local elected officials, “America-first patriots and courageous conservative warriors” and several conservative groups.
“They all know I am the true conservative in this race who is committed to reversing the Biden agenda and putting America back on track to be great again as it was in President Trump’s first term,” he said.
This story was updated at 10:14 p.m.