President Donald Trump entered South Carolina’s increasingly competitive Republican gubernatorial primary on Friday, throwing his support behind Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette and dealing a significant setback to Rep. Nancy Mace, who had long sought the coveted endorsement.
The announcement, made on Trump’s Truth Social platform, marks the president’s first major intervention in a crowded Republican field that also includes Rep. Ralph Norman, Attorney General Alan Wilson and businessman Rom Reddy. With the June 9 primary fast approaching and polling showing several candidates clustered near the top, Trump’s endorsement is expected to reshape the race and could prove decisive among Republican voters.
For Mace, the development represents a notable political disappointment. While she has frequently aligned herself with Trump and embraced many of his policy priorities, tensions have surfaced in recent months between the congresswoman and figures within the president’s political circle.
Trump’s allies have privately expressed frustration with Mace over several issues, including her calls for greater transparency regarding files connected to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and her criticism of certain aspects of the administration’s foreign policy agenda. Those disagreements fueled speculation that the president might ultimately look elsewhere for a candidate he viewed as more consistently aligned with his political movement.
That speculation intensified earlier this month when reports emerged suggesting growing concern among Trump supporters that Mace could secure the Republican nomination despite her strained relationship with some influential figures in Trump-world. Critics argued that Mace had failed to stand with the president during key political battles and questioned whether she represented the strongest standard-bearer for the America First agenda.
One source close to the White House told Axios that Mace and fellow candidate Ralph Norman had undermined Trump when it mattered most and should not be rewarded with the governor’s mansion. Another Republican operative criticized Mace for repeatedly seeking Trump’s endorsement while publicly challenging the administration on matters related to the Epstein controversy.
Mace’s campaign strongly rejected those characterizations. A senior adviser argued that concerns about her candidacy were being amplified by political consultants working on behalf of rival campaigns. The adviser maintained that Mace remained a formidable contender and suggested that reports about her standing with Trump were designed to weaken her momentum.
In the end, however, Trump chose Evette, a longtime ally who has cultivated close ties to the president and his political network. In his endorsement, Trump praised her unwavering loyalty and highlighted her early support during the 2024 presidential campaign.
“Pam Evette is an America First Patriot who has been with me from the very beginning,” Trump wrote. He emphasized that she “never wavered, never let me down” and noted that she was the first candidate for South Carolina governor to endorse his return to the White House.
The endorsement underscores a recurring theme in Trump-era Republican politics: loyalty remains one of the most valuable political currencies within the party. As Republican voters prepare to cast their ballots, Trump’s decision signals not only his preference in the race but also his continued influence over the direction of the GOP in one of its most important Southern strongholds.
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