Trump endorses – President Donald Trump endorsed U.S. Rep. John James for governor of Michigan on Monday, calling it a “Complete and Total Endorsement” in a Truth Social post. Hours later, Michigan state Senate Minority Leader Aric Nesbitt suspended his campaign and endorsed J
On Monday, President Donald Trump didn’t wait for Michigan’s GOP gubernatorial field to settle. He named a winner—publicly—backing U.S. Rep. John James for governor and using the language of certainty.
“It is my Great Honor to endorse America First Congressman. John James. who is running to become the next Governor of the Beautiful State of Michigan!” Trump wrote in a Truth Social post. He added: “John James has my Complete and Total Endorsement to be the next Governor of Michigan — HE WILL NOT LET YOU DOWN!”.
James, in social media posts after Trump’s endorsement, thanked the president and called him “The greatest President of my lifetime.”
The endorsement landed as a visible test of party unity—because within hours, a rival exited the primary and threw his support behind James.
Michigan state Senate Minority Leader Aric Nesbitt suspended his campaign and endorsed James after Trump issued the message. In social media posts. Nesbitt said: “This campaign has always been about the people of Michigan and standing with President Trump to defeat the Democrats in November.” He continued: “Today. I am suspending my campaign and proudly joining President Trump in endorsing John James as Michigan’s next Governor.”.
Nesbitt’s case for stepping aside was blunt: “A divided primary only helps Democrats. It’s time to unite.” He asked supporters to follow him into the general election fight. writing: “I’m asking every one of you who supported this campaign to stand with me behind John James. roll up our sleeves. and deliver a Republican victory in November.”.
James answered quickly. In a post on X, he said: “When President Trump endorsed this campaign, Aric Nesbitt did exactly what a true Michigan CONSERVATIVE should do: He united behind the President and our mission to Save Michigan from the Libs and the RINOs destroying our Republic!”
For the candidates still in the race, Trump’s endorsement didn’t end the debate—it sharpened it.
Businessman Perry Johnson. who is running in the Michigan Republican gubernatorial primary. suggested Trump had made the wrong call by backing James. In social media posts. Johnson wrote: “President Trump received bad advice yet again.” He argued James is a “two-time statewide loser” and said Michigan has “already seen this movie before. ” pointing to “Trump-backed statewide candidates like John James. Tudor Dixon. Matt DePerno. and Kristina Karamo all came up short when it mattered most.”.
Former Michigan Attorney General Mike Cox also weighed in while continuing his own bid. In a post on X. Cox wrote: “Like @POTUS. I’ve won Michigan twice by building a coalition of working Michiganders who are sick of being screwed by the elites.” He added that he is “proud to have voted for President Trump in each of his last three elections. ” and said he “donated thousands of dollars to support his campaigns.” Cox also wrote that in 2024 he was “hired to represent him as his election integrity lawyer in Michigan. ” concluding: “I look forward to being President Trump’s favorite Governor when I win.”.
The moves inside Michigan’s primary set up a direct test of the moment Trump is trying to create: a unified lane for a Republican victory in November, versus a lingering argument among some contenders that Trump’s backing has a history of coming up short.
Donald Trump John James Michigan governor race GOP primary Aric Nesbitt Perry Johnson Mike Cox Michigan Republicans