The winner of last night’s North Carolina House GOP primary runoff, Madison Cawthorn, said President Donald Trump called him Wednesday morning to congratulate him on a “beautiful” victory.
The comments came during the 24-year-old real estate investor’s appearance Wednesday on “Morning Joe” when host Willie Geist asked if he had heard from Mark Meadows, who opted to back Cawthorn’s opponent Lynda Bennett in the 11th Congressional District seat. (RELATED: North Carolina Republican Mark Meadows, Former Freedom Caucus Chair, Will Not Seek Reelection)
As noted, Bennett was endorsed by both Meadows and President Trump.
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“I have not heard from Mr. Meadows, but I did — I have heard from the president so far,” Cawthorn explained. “So, you know, it was an honor getting a call from Air Force One.”
“He congratulated me,” he added. “He was talking about how amazing of a victory it was. He defined it as beautiful, you know. Just talking about how impressive it was that we were able to overcome just so many large obstacles that we did.”
Cawthorn continued, while noting how he appreciates “where we’re at right now. I believe, you know, the president recognized that we ran a campaign that was very difficult to beat and also that we are someone who can really help ease this partisan divide that’s going on in our country right now and help bring a lot of our voters together.”
Following last night’s win, Cawthorn posted a message on Facebook that he in no way felt his victory was a rebuke of the president, per CBS News.
“I want to make something clear: I support our great president,” Cawthorn said in a statement. “I do not believe this election has been a referendum on the president’s influence. The people of western North Carolina are wise and discerning. You observed both candidates and simply made the choice you believed is best for our district.”
As previously reported, Cawthorn won 65% of the vote against Bennett by the time poll watchers called the race.