Kemp and Trump Have “Smoothed Things Over,” Says Running Mate J.D. Vance
Photo: Curtis Compton/Atlanta Journal-Constitution/Associated Press
Georgia Republican Governor Brian Kemp and former President Donald Trump have reportedly reconciled their differences, according to Trump’s running mate, Senator J.D. Vance (R-OH). This development comes after years of tension following the 2020 election, during which Trump famously pressured Kemp in a phone call to “find, uh, 11,780 votes,” asserting that he had won the state.
Senator Vance, who has been actively campaigning across the country, stopped in Georgia on Thursday to speak to a group of law enforcement officials. Rather than holding large rallies, Vance has been opting for smaller events, where he briefly addresses law enforcement officers and fields questions from reporters.
During the event, CBS News reporter Taurean Small asked Vance about the campaign’s relationship with Kemp, especially in light of Lieutenant Governor Geoff Duncan, a fellow Republican, appearing at the Democratic National Convention. Vance assured Small that the relationship between Trump and Kemp has been mended.
“Brian Kemp and Donald Trump have had some disagreements,” Vance acknowledged. “I [can] 100% guarantee you that [Kemp] is behind this ticket.”Kemp, who previously told CBS News that he did not vote for Trump in the primary elections, has stated his commitment to supporting the eventual Republican nominee. Despite their past differences, it appears that Kemp is now fully backing the Trump-Vance ticket.
This apparent reconciliation is notable, given that just two weeks ago, at a rally in Atlanta, Trump criticized Kemp as “disloyal” and accused him of being detrimental to the Republican Party. Moreover, Kemp had mentioned in an earlier interview with CNN’s Caitlin Huey-Burns that Trump had not contacted him.
With Kemp now reportedly on board, the Trump campaign is aiming to consolidate Republican support in Georgia, a key battleground state, as they head into the final stretch of the election season. The resolution of this rift could prove crucial for the GOP as they seek to present a united front in the upcoming election.
