With Georgia’s Republican governor runoff set for Tuesday, Donald Trump Jr. posted support for Rick Jackson—despite having the president’s endorsement behind Lt. Gov. Burt Jones. His message, followed by a quick clarification, lands in the middle of a hard-fou
On the eve of a Georgia governor runoff, Donald Trump Jr. did something that felt like a quiet jolt to the race: he publicly praised Rick Jackson—then worked to make clear it wasn’t a straight endorsement.
The posts landed while the Republican primary runoff is set for Tuesday. June 16. after neither Burt Jones nor Jackson reached 50% in May’s vote. That means Georgia is still stuck in a drawn-out political fight with consequences that stretch beyond the Republican nomination—because the winner will face Democratic nominee Keisha Lance Bottoms. the former mayor of Atlanta. in November.
For a race already described as the most costly governor’s contest in state history—before any Republican has even been chosen—the public back-and-forth from the Trump orbit underscored how personal and high-stakes this particular Republican battle has become.
Donald Trump Jr. posted support for Jackson just before the runoff began
On June 15, Trump Jr. took to X to share his personal support of Jackson “as a man,” writing: “Regardless of what happens in the Georgia Governor’s race tomorrow, we should be celebrat(ing) the patriots building up MAGA and an America First economy like (Rick Jackson) has.”
He added: “This has been a hard-fought race with a lot of mudslinging, but I know Rick Jackson to be a good man — and that counts for a lot.”
In the same post, Trump Jr. pointed to Jackson’s business claims. He applauded Jackson for his company investing in “the last amoxicillin (an antibiotic) manufacturing plant in the U.S.” after the rest of the industry had been outsourced to China. and he said Jackson was the “largest outside investor” during an oil refining shortage after “the woke bans” wouldn’t finance the industry.
That post could have been read as a bid for the governorship itself. But roughly 25 minutes later, Trump Jr. posted a clarification: “Btw this is not an endorsement of Rick and I think (Burt Jones) is a great guy too. My only point is that no matter who wins tomorrow, it’s a victory for MAGA.”
The nuance mattered because Jones is the lieutenant governor who has carried the president’s backing and the MAGA base’s attention for months—while Jackson entered late, self-funded the effort, and positioned himself as a Trump-like outsider and businessman.
Jones vs. Jackson for the same MAGA base
Jones is taking on healthcare CEO Rick Jackson after what was described as a tight, highly contested primary. Jones is a vocal MAGA supporter and a 2020 election denier. He was endorsed by the president before Jackson entered the race. and he has maintained that backing through multiple “tele-rallies” held for Jones.
Jones has also backed legislation favored by the MAGA base, including open carry on college campuses and Georgia’s six-week abortion ban.
But Jackson’s late entry—late in the primary season—and his decision to run as a completely self-funded candidate has made his path different from the start. Jackson has campaigned as a Trump-like candidate. a political outsider. and a businessman who says he could run Georgia “like his multi-million dollar company. ” while also positioning himself as a staunch supporter of the president in a state that has held Trump’s attention for the past six years.
That overlap is why the tone of the race has often swung from policy to loyalty. Jackson and Jones are both trying to hit the same MAGA audience, and Jackson has had to do it without relying on Trump vocally supporting him in the same way that Jones has.
Immigration attacks, a debate moment, and a campaign sprint
The two candidates’ fight has played out in sharp, sometimes absolutist messaging—especially around immigration.
In one political ad that has run across the state, Jackson says that if he is elected governor, illegal immigrants in Georgia will end up “deported or departed.” The ad sparked controversy online for the intense and seemingly black-and-white tone.
That messaging has also been framed as a response to a question Jones asked Jackson during a debate: whether Jackson hired illegal immigrants to work on his Cumming, Georgia property. When pushed, Jackson answered “I don’t know.”
The campaigns have continued to trade attacks. Jones appeared alone at a debate after Jackson canceled due to scheduling conflicts. Jackson, meanwhile, has launched what’s been described as seemingly endless ad campaigns—on television and in the mail.
Not all endorsements are equal, and polling stayed close
Jones secured a surprisingly last-minute endorsement from Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp. Jackson has been supported by former Florida governor Rick Scott.
Polling ahead of the runoff showed the candidates relatively evenly matched going into Tuesday.
And even in that closeness, there’s a tension that keeps showing up whenever Trump-backed candidates are on the ballot: how much “MAGA” energy can help in a Republican primary without becoming a liability in the general election.
Steve Kornacki, NBC’s chief political analyst, said in advance of the May primary that Jackson’s messaging “may work to beat Jones in the primary,” but that it would be harder to carry into the general election in Georgia.
Kornacki said: “Clearly. (Jackson) is trying to win the Republican primary against a Trump-endorsed candidate. that’s a very hard thing to do in 2026. that Trump endorsement is just so powerful. Jackson is trying to find a way to almost be more MAGA than the Trump endorsed candidate. I think that’s certainly how I would read that inside that primary.”.
He added: “I think there is a pretty big gap between Jackson. Jones and the other (candidates).” Then he pointed to the bigger question for November and beyond: “How that plays in the general election. it’s an interesting question. Is there such a thing as too MAGA for Georgia?. I think there surely is.”.
Voters go to the polls Tuesday, June 16
The runoff election is set for Tuesday, June 16. Polls are open across Georgia from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
For this race, the stakes aren’t just about who wins a governor’s seat. It’s about who can claim the mantle of the movement—especially in a contest where even a supportive post can turn into a carefully worded correction within minutes. and where every voter feels the pressure of deciding which version of MAGA will carry them forward.
Georgia governor runoff Rick Jackson Burt Jones Donald Trump Jr MAGA tele-rallies Brian Kemp endorsement Keisha Lance Bottoms amoxicillin plant oil refining shortage