Photo: Alamy
President Donald Trump issued his “total and complete endorsement” of GOP Gov. Tate Reeves less than one week away from Mississippi’s closely watched gubernatorial race.
In a video posted to Trump’s Truth Social on Wednesday—of which Reeves later uploaded to X (formerly Twitter)—Trump made the case for why voters should reelect the governor to a second term next week.
Trump began his endorsement by criticizing “crooked” Joe Biden, accusing his former foe of “absolutely destroying” the United States through his disastrous policies.
“[Biden] threw open the border, he wrecked our economy,” said Trump. “Inflation is a disaster, and everything else is just more expensive.”
Trump also suggested that Democrat Brandon Presley, Gov. Reeves’s opponent, was funded and controlled by Biden and other prominent leaders within the Democrat Party.
“Now Joe Biden wants to put his candidate—and this is his candidate—Brandon Presley in as Mississippi’s governor,” the 45th president argued. “The citizens of Mississippi must not let that happen.”
Presley, a member of the state’s public service commission and second-cousin to singer Elvis Presley, has faced scrutiny among opponents for his alleged ties to suspicious campaign finance dealings and Biden family associates.
According to campaign finance filings, Presley reportedly accepted thousands of dollars from a Chinese national who, as reported by Fox News, has strong ties to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).
The Fox News report also accused the gubernatorial hopeful of accepting payments from Elizabeth Naftali, who allegedly purchased artwork from first son Hunter Biden.
In his endorsement of Reeves, Trump sustained that “Joe Biden and his people are funding Brandon Presley’s campaign.”
“They own him. He’ll do whatever they want him to do,” said Trump.
Trump then accused the “radical left maniacs” who have continuously attacked him of also going after Reeves, telling the residents of Mississippi to “make time to vote” for Tate Reeves.
“He fights for the people of Mississippi, and he has my total and complete endorsement,” said Trump.
The Mississippi gubernatorial race will take place on Tuesday, Nov. 7. Pre-election polling has shown Gov. Reeves with an increasing lead over Presley, with his lead averaging almost 10-points over his opponent according to Real Clear Politics.
Although Reeves does not have a wide lead over Presley, the governor’s margins have expanded in recent months, as his Democrat opponent has struggled to sway conservative voters with his stances on several key issues.
Presley took criticism back in June for saying that he would not have signed legislation that would have outlawed gender affirming care for minors, such as puberty blockers.
Meanwhile, Reeves, who endorsed President Trump on Friday, told the Washington Examiner that if he wins reelection, he will spend time “building” Trump’s campaign in Mississippi.
“I’ve been defending President Trump when we see these outrageous political prosecutions, and my opponent has been cheering them on,” said Reeves.
