Photo: Alamy
President Donald Trump addressed convention attendees at Turning Point USA’s “AmericaFest” in Phoenix on Sunday where he endorsed Karrin Taylor Robson in a run as Arizona’s governor in 2026.
The announcement came in his criticism of Arizona’s current Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs.
“You have a governor who doesn’t know what the hell she’s doing,” he said concerning Hobbs, pushing Robson as the GOP alternative.
He also spoke about cracking down on border crime during his address.
“I will immediately designate the cartels as foreign terrorist organizations,” he said.
Trump also gave his support for Arizona Republican Party Chairwoman Gina Swoboda after he won the state in the 2024 presidential election.
“We’re going to be backing Gina to run again,” he said. “If you do you have my endorsement, so that should be good.”
The president previously endorsed Kari Lake in a run for governor against Hobbs in the previous election. She lost in a close race in which she refused to concede.
Lake later as for the U.S. Senate in Arizona in 2024. She lost in a close race despite Trump winning the state’s electoral votes as president.
Following his November win, Trump nominated Lake to serve as the leader of Voice for America.
“I am pleased to announce that Kari Lake will serve as our next Director of the Voice of America. She will be appointed by, and work closely with, our next head of the U.S. Agency for Global Media, who I will announce soon, to ensure that the American values of Freedom and Liberty are broadcast around the World FAIRLY and ACCURATELY, unlike the lies spread by the Fake News Media,” Trump wrote earlier in the month on Truth Social.
“Kari was a beloved News Anchor in Arizona, which supported me by record margins, for over 20 years,” he continued. “Congratulations Kari!”
Lake was also previously rumored as Trump’s ambassador to Mexico.