Former President Donald Trump paid back House Freedom Caucus leader Rep. Bob Good Tuesday for his endorsement of Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis during the Republican primary — by backing Good’s challenger days after the congressman showed up at Trump’s Manhattan trial on charges of falsifying business records.
“Bob Good is BAD FOR VIRGINIA, AND BAD FOR THE USA,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
“He turned his back on our incredible movement, and was constantly attacking and fighting me until recently, when he gave a warm and ‘loving’ Endorsement – But really, it was too late,” the 45th president added, saying the “damage has been done.”
Trump, 77, backed Virginia state Sen. John McGuire — a close ally of the former president and a former Navy SEAL — in the June 18 primary.
Good (R-Va.) was one of a gaggle of House Republicans who showed up at Manhattan Criminal Court May 16 to speak out on behalf of Trump to get around a gag order issued by the trial judge.
Whoever wins the GOP primary in Virginia’s Fifth Congressional District will be favored for election in the mostly rural district, which Good has represented since 2021.
“John, who fought the Cartels on the Front Line, and then came home and fought the drug dealers in Virginia, will ALWAYS PUT AMERICA FIRST. I had the safest Border in history, built hundreds of miles of Wall, and then Crooked Joe Biden came along and ruined it, making it one of the worst human catastrophes ever in our Country,” Trump said in his statement, painting McGuire as the more conservative candidate.
“John and I will correct this situation, and fast! He is strong on crime, will protect our great Military/Vets, and will always defend our under siege Second Amendment. John McGuire has my Complete and Total Endorsement! MAGA2024”
Good was one of eight Republican members of Congress who voted Oct. 3 to oust House speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) and assumed the chairmanship of the Freedom Caucus this past Jan. 1, succeeding Rep. Scott Perry (R-Pa.).
The 58-year-old lawmaker endorsed DeSantis for the GOP nomination in May of last year, calling the governor an example of “courageous conservative leadership” and predicting: “If Governor DeSantis runs for president, he will win.”
DeSantis, 45, dropped out of the race Jan. 21 after finishing a distant second to Trump in the Iowa caucuses.
In a post on X, McGuire thanked Trump for his endorsement, saying: “Together we will fight for We the People and Save America.
“We can do better than Good.”
Good’s office did not immediately respond to an inquiry from The Post.