Donald Trump teased a potential trip to Virginia amid the tight gubernatorial election between Glenn Youngkin and Democrat Terry McAuliffe shortly after the Lincoln Project released an ad suggesting the GOP candidate has "banned" him from visiting the state to campaign with him.
In a short statement on Wednesday afternoon, the former president said: "Chanting, 'We love Trump' in Arlington, Va. Thank you, Arlington, see you soon!"
The statement was released one day after President Joe Biden campaigned with McAuliffe in Arlington, with a small crowd of people chanting their support of Trump while the president was speaking at an event.
"It's not a Trump rally. We let them holler," Biden responded.
Trump spokesperson Taylor Budowich later tweeted the "MAGA movement will be delivering a major victory to Trump-endorsed businessman" Youngkin and that Trump "looks forward to being back in Virginia."
Trump's potential visit to Virginia to publicly show support for Youngkin was announced just hours after the Lincoln Project, a Republican PAC consisting of Trump critics, released their latest advert suggesting Youngkin is "embarrassed" of him and that any association with the former president could cost him the election in the state Biden won by 10 points in 2020.
Youngkin has so far refused to say whether he actually wants the former president to campaign with him.
"Oh Donald, it's happening again," states a voice during the advert entitled "Ungrateful."
"You made Glenn Youngkin, without you he was nothing. That's why Glenn Youngkin has banned you from coming to Virginia. He thinks you're a loser and you'll make him one too. He's embarrassed of you, he wants you to stay away. Far Away. Glenn Youngkin is just another RINO [Republican in name only] stabbing you in the back."
Donald, you’re being played. pic.twitter.com/eOjGRT9uDi
— The Lincoln Project (@ProjectLincoln) October 27, 2021
It is unclear when Trump may visit Virginia. The Washington Post reports, citing unnamed sources, that he won't attend before Election Day on November 2, with Trump aides telling Politico he won't even come at all.
Tucker Martin, a former Republican consultant in Virginia, told Politico he doesn't expect Trump to visit Virginia over fears his influence would be cited as the reason for any potential loss for Youngkin.
"He wants to have the ability to call himself the winner no matter what happens, so staying away preserves all his options in the aftermath," Martin said.
"I think it's obviously a concerted strategy to make this as much about Virginia as you can, and it's a smart strategy," Martin added. "Bringing in Trump would not help them one bit because a Democratic base that is unenthused and not that motivated, the one thing that could motivate them would be Donald Trump rolling up into Fairfax or southwest Virginia."
The Democrats are even using a potential Trump visit to their favor by trying to link Youngkin with the twice impeached president as much as possible.
"Trump just announced he's coming to Virginia to campaign for Glenn Youngkin six days before Election Day," a text message from McAuliffe's campaign team read, reported The Post. "It's time for our most powerful response yet—this is our opportunity to reject Trumpism & Youngkin in VA."
Youngkin has been contacted for further comment.
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Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
About the writer
Ewan Palmer is a Newsweek News Reporter based in London, U.K. His focus is reporting on US politics, domestic policy ... Read more
