Trump endorses – President Donald Trump’s endorsement of South Carolina Lt. Governor Pamela Evette unraveled on Friday as he announced he is also endorsing her runoff opponent, Attorney General Alan Wilson. The GOP gubernatorial primary runoff is set for Tuesday after neither
President Donald Trump’s endorsement of South Carolina Lt. Governor Pamela Evette didn’t survive the calendar.
Last month. Trump had thrown his weight behind Evette in the crowded Republican gubernatorial primary field. calling her “a good friend. fighter. and WINNER” and saying she “will be a terrific Governor of South Carolina.” He added. “Pam has my Complete and Total Endorsement — SHE WILL NEVER LET YOU DOWN!”.
But a week after election night—when Evette received the most votes and Attorney General Alan Wilson finished second—Trump is now endorsing both.
Evette and Wilson did not secure the majority of votes needed to avoid a runoff, so the state is moving toward a Tuesday runoff. On Friday, Trump returned to Truth Social to reiterate his support for Evette while adding, in the clearest terms, that Wilson now has his backing as well.
“Both have had amazing careers, and have been with me from the beginning. They are MAGA and America First all the way!” Trump wrote. “These were the two that I was hoping would get into a Runoff, and they did. I can’t hurt one of them by only Endorsing the other. so. therefore. I am going to Endorse. for Governor of South Carolina. both Pam Evette and Alan Wilson!. It’s a Wealth of Riches – With either one you can’t go wrong. Vote for Pam or Alan — They will not let you down!. President DONALD J. TRUMP.”.
The shift landed in a race that has already been shaped by Trump’s willingness to play both sides of a primary field when it comes down to choice.
Trump has endorsed two candidates in the same primary before. In 2024, he backed Blake Masters and Abe Hamadeh in a U.S. House race in Arizona, where Hamadeh eventually won. Last year, Trump endorsed Rep. Andy Biggs and Karrin Taylor Robinson in the Arizona Republican gubernatorial primary, which will be held on July 21.
In South Carolina, the sudden wobble in Trump’s signal also fueled immediate political pushback from within the state’s Republican delegation.
Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC) had hoped to secure Trump’s endorsement in the South Carolina primary and posted an AI-generated image of her and Trump giving a thumbs up—asserting she had his backing. “Pamela Evette is NOT ENDORSED by DONALD TRUMP,” Mace wrote on social media. “Do not believe her LIES.”
Hours later, Trump endorsed Evette anyway.
Now the runoff is set, with both candidates entering Tuesday without the majority support required to end the primary on election night—one step closer to the statewide general election, and one step further away from a single, uncomplicated Trump endorsement.
Donald Trump Pamela Evette Alan Wilson South Carolina gubernatorial primary runoff Alan Wilson endorsement Evette endorsement Truth Social Nancy Mace MAGA America First Republican nomination