Politics

Trump calls Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp a ‘disaster’ at rally, suggests Abrams instead

Former President Donald Trump lashed out at Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp Saturday, suggesting at a rally that Democrat Stacey Abrams “might be better” to head the Peach State.

“Stacey — would you like to take his place? It’s OK with me,” Trump told supporters of at the Georgia State Fairgrounds in Kemp.

“We don’t want her!” someone yelled from the crowd.

Trump later took another dig at Kemp, a Republican he once supported.

“Of course having her I think might be better than having your existing governor if you want to know the truth,” Trump said. “Might very well be better.”

“This guy is a disaster,” he said of Kemp at another point.

Kemp has been a target of the ex-president since Trump lost Georgia in the 2020 presidential election. Trump lost the state by just 0.23 percent, or 11,779 votes.

Former President Trump called Gov. Kemp a “disaster” during his speech at the rally in Georgia. John Bazemore/AP
Donald Trump fell just short to President Biden in Georgia in 2020. Ben Gray/AP

Trump continued his attacks on the governor, claiming “I made the mistake” of endorsing Kemp for his election bid against Abrams in 2018. 

Kemp won that election 50.2 percent to Abrams’ 48.8 percent, after Trump held two rallies backing the candidate leading up to the election.

But weeks Trump’s loss, he ripped Kemp, saying he was “ashamed” to have endorsed him and that he’s “done absolutely nothing” to advance Trump’s claim of election fraud in the state.

Stacey Abrams narrowly lost to Brian Kemp in 2018. John Bazemore, Pool, File/AP
Supporters attend former president Donald Trump’s Save America rally in Perry, Ga., on Sept. 25, 2021. Ben Gray/AP

Kemp would not call a special session to overturn Georgia’s election results.

Trump recalled on Saturday night pressuring the governor to force a recount by urging the state Legislature to overturn the results.

Former President Donald Trump speaks during his Save America rally in Perry, Ga.
Former President Donald Trump speaks during his Save America rally in Perry, Ga.Ben Gray/AP

“I said Brian you know you have a big election integrity problem in Georgia,” Trump said. “I hope you can help us out and call a special election and let’s get to the bottom of it for the good of the country, for the good of the state of Georgia.”

Kemp is up for reelection in 2022.