President Donald Trump celebrated after a candidate he endorsed won the Republican primary in South Carolina for governor— despite having thrown his support behind both contenders.
On Tuesday, South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson defeated Lieutenant Governor Pamela Evette in a runoff election for the state’s GOP gubernatorial primary.
Soon after the race was called, the 80-year-old president took to Truth Social to declare victory. He posted a graphic that stated: “ALAN WILSON WINS! ENDORSED BY PRESIDENT TRUMP!”
Yet the presidential brag came with a big asterisk: Trump had endorsed both candidates, positioning himself to claim credit no matter who emerged victorious.
In late May, just days before the initial primary, the president threw his support behind Evette, a former accountant and the state’s first female lieutenant governor. In a Truth Social post, he lauded her as “Highly Respected,” “very popular” and “an America First Patriot who has been with me from the very beginning.”
In the June 9 primary, Evette finished in first place, garnering 29 percent of the vote, while Wilson came in second with 26 percent. The other six candidates, including Rep. Nancy Mace, trailed further behind. As a result of no candidate winning a majority, a runoff was scheduled.
Over the ensuing days, Wilson — an Iraq War veteran and the son of a sitting South Carolina congressman — consolidated support, picking up endorsements from several former opponents as well as Senator Tim Scott.
On June 22, the day before the runoff, the president — who once owned a sprawling casino empire — decided to hedge his bets.
“I love the Wonderful State of South Carolina for every reason in the book, including the fact that it is ‘loaded up’ with truly GREAT people and Political Leaders,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
“I can’t hurt one of them by only Endorsing the other, so, therefore, I am going to Endorse, for Governor of South Carolina, both Pam Evette and Alan Wilson,” he continued. “With either one you can’t go wrong. Vote for Pam or Alan — They will not let you down!”
In response, Wilson said he was “honored” to receive Trump’s seal of approval, while Evette wrote on X: “I was proud to come in first as President @realDonaldTrump’s endorsed candidate for Governor on June 9th. Looking forward to doing it again on June 23rd.”
On Tuesday night, Wilson trounced Evette, winning 68 percent of the vote to her 31 percent, according to a tally by NBC News.
Trump, who has long relished his role as a GOP kingmaker, also touted similar victories on Truth Social after candidates he backed prevailed in Maryland, New York and Utah on Tuesday.
His decision to endorse both candidates in South Carolina, however, allowed him to sidestep a potential third loss, following defeats by his preferred contenders in recent gubernatorial primaries in Georgia and Iowa.
While recent primaries have helped gauge Trump’s grip on the GOP, his appeal with Americans more broadly will face its biggest test in November’s midterm elections.
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