Latest news with #TrumpEndorsement
Fox News
26-05-2025
- Politics
- Fox News
Trump endorses House Republican who failed to vote on the One Big Beautiful Bill Act
President Donald Trump backed several House Republicans for reelection in Truth Social posts on Sunday, expressing support for Reps. Andrew Garbarino of New York, Troy Downing of Montana, Guy Reschenthaler of Pennsylvania, and Bryan Steil of Wisconsin. Each lawmaker received an individual post from Trump, and each post declared that the given lawmaker has Trump's endorsement. Republicans currently hold the majority in the House, but the 2026 midterms will determine whether the GOP maintains control of the chamber during the tail end of Trump's second term in office. Trump's show of support for Garbarino comes after the congressman failed to cast a vote on the "One Big Beautiful Bill Act" that passed the House last week. House Speaker Mike Johnson said that "Garbarino did not make it in time," but had fallen asleep. "I am proud to have been the leading voice on Long Island during negotiations on this key reconciliation bill. I fought to lift the cap on SALT and ensure hardworking Long Island families see the benefits of this important legislation. I was moments away from the House floor, to vote 'yes,' when the vote was closed," Garbarino said in a statement, according to reports. "While I am frustrated that the vote was closed before I was able to cast my vote, I am proud of the work we accomplished to deliver huge results for Long Island. I congratulate President Trump on getting this bill passed and look forward to voting 'yes' when it comes back to the House floor from the Senate," Garbarino said in a statement. Fox News Digital reached out to Garbarino's office on Monday morning but did not receive a response by the time of publication. "Thank you, Mr. President, it's an honor to serve NY-02," Garbarino said in a Sunday night post on X in response to the president's endorsment.
New York Times
12-05-2025
- Politics
- New York Times
Trump Endorses Jack Ciattarelli for Governor of New Jersey
President Trump inserted his considerable influence into the race for governor of New Jersey on Monday, announcing his endorsement of Jack Ciattarelli, a Republican who came within three points of defeating the state's Democratic governor in 2021. 'Jack Ciattarelli is a terrific America First Candidate running to be the next Governor of a State that I love, NEW JERSEY!' Mr. Trump wrote on Truth Social. 'He is strongly supported by the most Highly Respected Leaders in New Jersey and, as your next Governor, Jack Ciattarelli will work closely with me and the Trump Administration.' The public support from Mr. Trump is likely to solidify Mr. Ciattarelli's odds in the June 10 Republican primary. He is competing against two prominent opponents — Bill Spadea, a conservative talk show host who had been similarly vying for the president's endorsement, and State Senator Jon Bramnick, a moderate who has been an outspoken critic of the Trump administration. Mr. Ciattarelli, 63, a former member of the State Assembly, said he was 'truly humbled and honored to receive President Trump's very strong endorsement.' 'It's time to unite our party, win big in November and make New Jersey affordable and safe again,' Mr. Ciattarelli wrote on social media. The endorsement could prove to be a liability, however, in November's general election. New Jersey traditionally leans left, and Mr. Trump is seen as an increasingly polarizing figure in a state where Democrats outnumber Republicans by more than 800,000 voters. In 2021, as Mr. Ciattarelli competed against Gov. Philip D. Murphy, a Democrat, he strained to avoid appearing overtly aligned with Mr. Trump, whom, years earlier, he had called a charlatan who was 'not fit to be president.' But since Mr. Trump's stronger-than-expected-showing in New Jersey November, Mr. Ciattarelli has openly courted the president. In March, he visited Mr. Trump at his golf club in Bedminster, N.J., and shared photos of the meeting on social media. 'Tonight, my great honor and pleasure to share time with @POTUS,' Mr. Ciattarelli wrote. Mr. Spadea, who took a leave of absence from his popular radio show to run for governor, was also working to win Mr. Trump's support. In one ad, he featured a snippet from an interview in which Mr. Trump groused about Mr. Ciattarelli, suggesting that if he had asked for Mr. Trump's endorsement in 2021, he might have won. 'This guy never came to ask for my support,' Mr. Trump told Mr. Spadea in a radio interview. 'When MAGA sees that, they don't like it.' Democrats are also locked in a competitive primary for governor. Mr. Trump's endorsement came less than about an hour before a debate among five of the six prominent Democrats vying for the nomination. After a campaign focused heavily on border security, Mr. Trump performed far better in New Jersey in the November election than he did in 2020, losing the state by just six points, down from 16 points four years earlier. In more than half of the state's counties, he received more votes than former President Joseph R. Biden. Still, he remains deeply unpopular in many of the state's most populous regions. A March poll by Stockton University found that 52 percent of New Jersey voters think the president is doing a poor job. Of those surveyed, 62 percent said they believed the economy was getting worse. Even before Mr. Trump's endorsement, Mr. Ciattarelli had already been gaining steam and had dominated the race for campaign donations. In 2021, Republican voters angered by the state's Covid-19 policies turned out in force. Mr. Ciattarelli came within three percentage points of beating Mr. Murphy, who is barred by term limits from running for re-election this year. In that election, the Democrats' registration advantage was greater than one million voters. Since then, more than 100,000 residents have registered to vote as Republicans, narrowing the gap. The registration figures, and Mr. Trump's showing in November, have given Republicans reason to hope that they are well positioned to retake the governor's office for the first time since 2018, when Chris Christie left office with dismal approval ratings and a party in disarray.
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Mike Lawler will go his own way — or so he says
NEW YORK — The subtext of President Donald Trump's recent reelection endorsement of Rep. Mike Lawler appeared clear enough: Stay, fight and keep your battleground New York seat red. Also, shelve your ambitions to become governor. But Lawler isn't interpreting the president's Truth Social post as the decree others have. The suburban Republican, after all, has doggedly built his brand as an independent and has long sought to be the first in a generation from his party to win statewide office in conventionally blue New York. 'Ultimately, my decision is going to be my decision,' Lawler told POLITICO in an interview the night after Trump's endorsement. 'It's going to be based on whether or not I believe there's a pathway in the general election.' He said he has no interest 'in a kamikaze mission' and will make his call by June. In the meantime, the 38-year-old second-term House member has plenty to tackle in Congress, including raising the state and local tax deduction cap, his calling-card cause. He's calculating that a win on SALT could boost his viability statewide, and he's also factoring in how potential cuts to Medicaid, federal immigration policy and the impact of Trump's tariffs might impact his political future. But his stated priorities won't be easy to secure. Republicans are locked in increasingly tense negotiations central to Trump's 'big, beautiful' spending bill. Even if he does score key policy wins in the coming months, Lawler will still have a fight on his hands — regardless of which office he pursues next year. Option A: Republicans want to topple Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul, but without the messy GOP primary of 2022. Aside from Lawler, upstate Rep. Elise Stefanik and Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman are top gubernatorial contenders, and their allegiances to Trump would likely give one of them a primary edge over Lawler. Then, of course, there's the general election, which would be an uphill battle in its own right, but would likely favor Lawler, the moderate, over Stefanik or Blakeman. Option B is also tricky: If Lawler opts to seek a third term in purple Hudson Valley, he'll do so as one of the country's most vulnerable House Republicans. The stage for the midterms has been set with town halls packed by constituents outraged over Trump's agenda and a burgeoning field of eager Democratic challengers sharpening their claws. Trump — whose Truth Social posts can make or break political careers — looms over it all. The president is seeking more influence in his home state, where he built his real estate and TV businesses — and where Democrats successfully prosecuted him. Several New York Republicans told POLITICO they see his glowing endorsement of Lawler's House bid as clearing the path for Stefanik to run for governor. Trump is closely aligned with the 40-year-old Stefanik, whose nomination for United Nations ambassador he abruptly yanked in March to protect Republicans' slim House majority. Stefanik, a member of House GOP leadership, and Lawler briefly feuded over their preferred candidates for her House seat, but both their camps said they've since mended fences. Did Stefanik ask Trump to weigh in this week on Lawler's future? She declined to say. Would Lawler run for governor without Trump's blessing? He won't say. 'He knows I'm considering it,' Lawler said. 'Look, obviously, his voice matters, and his thoughts on a prospective campaign matter, but that's a conversation I will have with him at some point.' Lawler told POLITICO he's spoken with White House officials but not the president himself since Trump's Tuesday night Truth Social post. In it, the president lauded Lawler as a 'true America First Patriot' fighting to secure the border and grow the economy, proffering a 'Complete and Total Endorsement for Re-Election.' Lawler is widely viewed as a media-savvy workhorse and the best contender to keep his district out of Democratic hands — and he has toed the line with Trump. But he's made exceptions. His willingness to buck his party has included standing up for Ukraine, opposing provisions that would defund Planned Parenthood and voting with Democrats against a GOP effort to block a measure allowing lawmakers with newborns to vote remotely. Being tied too closely to the president would hurt him in either general election he's eying. Lawler said he's grateful for the president's endorsement, but as of Thursday night had yet to promote it on his own social media accounts. Democrats are spreading the word for him. 'Mike Lawler just received a presidential-level snub from Donald Trump,' Democratic Governors Association spokesperson Kevin Donohoe said in a statement. 'Donald Trump, and no one else, will choose New York's next Republican gubernatorial nominee — and it's not going to be Mike Lawler.' Republicans who know him said Lawler isn't afraid to go his own way. 'The only person who will tell Michael whether or not to run for governor will be Michael,' said Dave Catalfamo, a GOP strategist and former top aide to New York's last Republican governor, George Pataki. 'I truly believe that what has made Mike so successful and what has made him attractive as a candidate is his independence.' For his part, Lawler has continued to stress his bipartisan record — even though its mention has invited jeers at the hostile Hudson Valley town halls he holds in defiance of GOP guidance. Livid attendees have railed at him over proposed cuts to Medicaid and Trump's deportation plans, with some saying his record doesn't match his rhetoric and protesters calling him 'MAGA Mike.' One constituent in her 60s was forcibly removed at his most recent forum. Lawler has said he opposes cuts to Medicaid for 'eligible' recipients. Ever the political animal, he's blasted the disruptors as activists and even fundraised on the acrimony by encouraging supporters to text 'CRAZY' to a campaign number. In Washington, with the stakes high over ironing out the Republican spending bill, Lawler's moderate Democratic colleagues have shown an appreciation for him. This week, he and Long Island Rep. Laura Gillen reintroduced a bill to codify the right to access in vitro fertilization. At their joint news conference, she suggested he bend Trump's ear on the legislation as he has on SALT, saying, 'He probably talks to the president more than I do and maybe he can put in a good word.' Lawler replied good-naturedly, 'You got it.'
Yahoo
08-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Pope Leo XIV Was Critical of J.D. Vance Shortly Before Winning Conclave Vote. Trump Wanted a Different American Cardinal
Following President Donald Trump's endorsement of the first American-born pope, Pope Leo XIV , social media users were quick to discover that the new pope had previously been critical of Vice President J.D. Vance. In February, Leo, born Robert Prevost in Chicago, posted two news articles to his X profile. One, titled, "JD Vance is wrong: Jesus doesn't ask us to rank our love for others," refuted Vance's proclamation about Christian priorities on Fox News. The other delved deeper into the late Pope Francis' criticism of Vance using the Catholic concept of "ordo amoris" to justify the Trump administration's immigration policies. Vance met with Pope Francis just a few hours before the pontiff's death on Easter Monday, April 21, 2025. The religious leader initially dismissed the Catholic convert, but Vance was eventually granted a private audience. 'I was happy to see him yesterday, though he was obviously very ill," Vance later shared on social media. "It was really quite beautiful.' Following the Vatican's announcement of Pope Leo's election, Trump took to social media to celebrate the appointment of an American pope. "Congratulations to Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, who was just named Pope," the president wrote on Truth Social. "It is such an honor to realize that he is the first American Pope. What excitement, and what a Great Honor for our Country. I look forward to meeting Pope Leo XIV. It will be a very meaningful moment!" However, Trump initially had a different American cardinal in mind for the role. After joking with reporters ahead of the papal conclave that he'd like to be the next pope, the president offered a hometown pick. 'I must say we have a cardinal who happens to be out of a place called New York who's very good,' he noted, likely referring to New York Archbishop Timothy Dolan. 'We'll see what happens.' Dolan offered the invocation during Trump's second inauguration ceremony in January. He also led Pope Francis' funeral mass service at New York City's famous St. Patrick's Cathedral on Saturday, April 26. Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. Prior to the conclave, religious experts told PEOPLE that the appointment of an American pope was unlikely. "I think that there's no chance for an American pope just because the United States is already so powerful in the world," said Dr. Bill Cavanaugh, a professor of Catholic studies at DePaul University. Read the original article on People
