COLUMBIA, S.C. — President Donald Trump reversed course Friday ahead of next week’s South Carolina Republican governor runoff, declaring that both candidates in the race — not solely Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette, who received his endorsement before the June 9th primary — would make a solid pick.
Taking to his Truth Social platform, Trump offered praise for both Evette and state Attorney General Alan Wilson, writing: “Both have had amazing careers, and have been with me from the beginning. They are MAGA and America First all the way!”
The shift signals a strategic hedge by Trump during a primary season in which several of his handpicked candidates have come up short — a pattern of rare losses that has raised questions about his political influence as he moves into the latter half of his second term.
Trump had previously given Evette his “Complete and Total Endorsement.” He had also highlighted what he called a “BIG added plus” for her campaign — the possibility that Henry McMaster Jr., son of the current governor and a close Trump ally, might serve as her running mate. However, the 38-year-old attorney later announced he would not be seeking the position.
Evette responded to Friday’s development on social media, posting: “I was proud to come in first as President @realDonaldTrump’s endorsed candidate for Governor on June 9th. Looking forward to doing it again on June 23rd.”
Wilson also took to social media, writing: “I am honored to have the endorsement of President Donald J. Trump.” Shortly after, his campaign issued a news release listing the legal briefs he has filed in support of Trump’s policy positions, including on restricting birthright citizenship — an issue the U.S. Supreme Court has yet to rule on.
Almost immediately following Trump’s dual-endorsement post, South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott announced on social media that he was throwing his support behind Wilson, predicting the attorney general “will lead with humility, courage, and an optimistic vision for our state.”
A source familiar with Scott’s thinking, who was not authorized to speak on the record, told The Associated Press that the senator had been making calls on Wilson’s behalf, helping with fundraising efforts, and encouraging Trump to endorse Wilson’s candidacy.
Evette has described Trump’s backing as a “golden ticket” for Republicans running in South Carolina, though the results across other states have been uneven. Trump’s picks in both Iowa and Georgia lost their races this month.
This isn’t the first time Trump has taken a broad approach to endorsements. Just before a 2022 U.S. Senate primary in Missouri featuring former Gov. Eric Greitens and Attorney General Eric Schmitt, Trump simply endorsed “ERIC” — leaving both candidates to claim the nod. Schmitt ultimately won both the nomination and the Senate seat.
Arizona’s primary is still a month away, but Trump has been weighing in on that governor’s race for two years. In late 2024, he endorsed housing developer Karrin Taylor Robson, a move that upset several key allies in the state who distrust her deep ties to the party’s business wing. Then in April 2025, Trump added U.S. Rep. Andy Biggs to his list of endorsements — alongside Robson.
Trump’s 2026 primary endorsements have produced a mixed record overall. Biotech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy in Ohio and U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville in Alabama both received early Trump backing and went on to dominate their primaries. Similarly, former state Sen. Mike Mazzei, Trump’s pick in Oklahoma’s crowded governor race, advanced to an Aug. 25 runoff.
On the other hand, Trump’s preferred candidates have stumbled in several contests. In Georgia, billionaire healthcare executive Rick Jackson — backed by more than $100 million, much of it from his own personal wealth — defeated Trump’s endorsed candidate, Lt. Gov. Burt Jones, to claim the Republican nomination.
In Iowa, U.S. Rep. Randy Feenstra, whom Trump endorsed on the same day as Evette, lost his governor’s race to businessman Zach Lahn.
