Former President Donald Trump has reaffirmed his support for embattled North Carolina Representative Madison Cawthorn ahead of the state's Republican primary on Tuesday. In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump described Cawthorn's recent scandals as 'foolish mistakes' and urged voters to give the 26-year-old congressman a 'second chance.'
Cawthorn faces a crowded eight-way primary in North Carolina's deep-red 11th Congressional District, with the winner expected to easily claim the House seat in November. Trump's endorsement, first issued in March 2021, has been tested by a series of controversies involving Cawthorn, including a leaked nude video, allegations of cocaine-fueled orgies involving senior members of Congress, and a cryptocurrency scheme.
Trump's post referenced a 2014 car crash that left Cawthorn paralyzed, stating that the congressman 'did a great job' when first elected but recently made 'foolish mistakes.' The former president added, 'I don't believe he'll make them again.' However, Trump was reportedly 'completely weirded out' by the extent of Cawthorn's scandals, according to sources cited by DailyMail.com.
Cawthorn has faced criticism from senior Republicans, including House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, who said Cawthorn 'lost' his trust, and North Carolina Senator Thom Tillis, who has called for an insider trading investigation. A PAC linked to Tillis has spent $300,000 on attack ads against Cawthorn. His top challenger, state lawmaker Chuck Edwards, has released an ad portraying Cawthorn as more interested in celebrity than service.
The primary will test Trump's endorsement strength, following his successful backing of JD Vance in Ohio's Senate race. Cawthorn's campaign has been marred by incidents including a handgun found in his carry-on luggage, multiple highway patrol encounters, and videos showing inappropriate behavior.
