At a campaign rally in North Carolina on Saturday, former President Trump praised many of the state’s politicians, but stopped short of mentioning gubernatorial nominee Mark Robinson in the wake of a bombshell report that linked the state’s GOP lieutenant governor to adult websites.
North Carolina GOP Chair Jason Simmons, Sen. Ted Budd (R-N.C.), Rep. Dan Bishop (R-N.C.) and Rep. David Rouzer (R-N.C.) are among the lawmakers in the state that Trump commended. Trump also called out Republican National Committee Chair Michael Whatley, who formerly led the North Carolina GOP.
Robinson, who was not expected to attend the rally, was left out of the praise.
But the Republican gubernatorial candidate did make a stop at a racetrack in Fayetteville, N.C., later Saturday.
He denied the allegations in CNN’s report in a video posted on the social platform X shortly before CNN published the article, which described remarks that Robinson made online between 2008 and 2012, including that he supported slavery and called himself a “Black Nazi.”
Robinson, who’s running against state Attorney General Josh Stein (D), had blamed his opponent and the media in the video.
“Let me reassure you: The things that you will see in that story, those are not the words of Mark Robinson,” he said.
CNN talked to Robinson: “This is not us. These are not our words and this is not anything that is characteristic of me,” Robinson said.
When asked if he denies if the account is him, Robinson said, “absolutely I do.”
Robinson has been an ally of Trump and was endorsed by the former president, attending other Trump events in the state.
Trump has not weighed in on the controversy.
A spokesperson for the Trump campaign issued a statement that did not mention Robinson but called North Carolina a “vital part” of the plan for winning the White House.
“We are confident that as voters compare the Trump record of a strong economy, low inflation, a secure border, and safe streets, with the failures of Biden-Harris, then President Trump will win the Tar Heel State once again. We will not take our eye off the ball,” national press secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a statement this week.
