Trump Endorses Jake Paul, Who Isn’t Running for Office
President Trump is still supporting the closely watched Republican Senate primary in Texas. But on Wednesday in Kentucky, he gave one to boxer and social media influencer Jake Paul, who is not currently a candidate.
After calling Mr. Paul to the stage at a rally in Hebron, Ky., Mr. Trump said: “He’s a great man. He’s a brave man and a talented man. He’s also a great fighter.”
Mr Trump said he had Mr Paul’s “complete and total support” and predicted the influencer would run for office in the “not too distant future”. Pointing to Mr. Paul, he added, “That’s what we want.”
Mr. Paul, 29, rose to prominence as a vlogger and provocateur who made headlines with his brash stunts. He said the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020 was a “hoax”. A year later, another influencer, Justine Paradise, accused him of sexual assault; One expression At the time, Mr. Paul called the claim “100% false.”
Mr. Paul said Mr. Trump taught him “courage.”
“We never back down from a fight,” Mr. Paul said at the rally.
Mr. Trump’s praise for Mr. Paul came as the president blocked a potential endorsement in the Republican Senate primary in Texas, where embattled incumbent Senator John Cornyn faces a runoff against the state’s scandal-plagued attorney general, Ken Paxton.
Many top Republicans are worried that Mr. Trump will back Mr. Cornyn, whom they see as a stronger general election candidate, to avoid extending a costly and attritional race through the GOP runoffs in May.
last week president he said on social media He said he would make a confirmation “soon” but he doesn’t seem to be in any rush. Mr. Cornyn’s campaign declined to comment on the president’s endorsement of Mr. Paul. Mr. Paxton’s campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Even as Mr. Trump’s approval rating declines in his second term, his support remains a strong force in the Republican primaries and he appears to relish his role as the party’s kingmaker. His pick in Tuesday’s House special election in Georgia led the vote-getters and burnished the president’s support record this cycle.
In Texas, Mr. Trump refused to endorse Rep. Dan Crenshaw in the Republican primary last week. Mr. Crenshaw succumbed to a far-right insurgency.
President endorses Mr. Paul at a rally-like White House event Mr. Trump also brought on stage Ed Gallrein, his pick in the local Republican primary for the House of Representatives. Mr. Gallrein is trying to unseat Rep. Thomas Massie, an outspoken Republican who has criticized Mr. Trump.
“The president is handing out support like Pez Candy,” Mr. Massie said in an interview on Saturday.
At Wednesday’s rally, Mr. Trump described Mr. Massie as a “complete and utter disaster.” He said Mr. Gallrein was “a true American hero.”
