The on-again, off-again relationship between former President Donald Trump and Georgia Governor Brian Kemp has taken yet another unexpected turn.
Despite a history filled with public feuds, harsh criticisms, and even political opposition, Trump recently posted on Truth Social, praising Kemp for his support in Georgia. The post reads:
“Thank you to @BrianKempGA for all of your help and support in Georgia, where a win is so important to the success of our Party and, most importantly, our Country. I look forward to working with you, your team, and all of my friends in Georgia to help MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!”
This apparent olive branch comes after years of tension that began in the wake of the 2020 election. Trump, frustrated with Kemp’s refusal to intervene in the certification of Georgia’s electoral results, publicly criticized the governor and even endorsed former Senator David Perdue in an unsuccessful primary challenge against him in 2022. Kemp, however, maintained his political strength, winning both the primary and the general election with significant margins.
In recent weeks, the feud seemed to flare up again. Earlier this month, Trump attacked Kemp, criticizing his handling of crime in Georgia and downplaying Kemp’s previous election successes. Trump went so far as to suggest that Kemp only won his 2018 election against Stacey Abrams because of Trump’s endorsement and hurled insults about Kemp’s wife.
Kemp responded by urging Trump to focus on the upcoming election and to avoid “petty personal insults,” telling Trump to “leave my family out of it”—a reference to Trump’s claims involving Kemp’s wife.
However, despite these recent tensions, Kemp has never wavered from his support of Trump’s bid for the White House. Trump, in turn, acknowledged Kemp’s comments in his latest post, suggesting that their relationship may be on the mend, at least for now.
This newfound fondness for each other is particularly notable given Georgia’s importance as a battleground state in the upcoming election. Both Trump and Kemp seem to recognize the necessity of cooperation if they hope to secure a Republican victory, though whether this truce will hold remains to be seen.
