Republican Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin responded to former President Donald Trump’s latest insult against him at a Friday press conference.
The former president asserted that Youngkin “couldn’t have come close” to victory in the 2021 gubernatorial election if it were not for his endorsement, and said his name “sounds Chinese.” When asked to respond, Youngkin said he does not partake in name calling.
“First of all, I didn’t see it [Trump’s statement] and I have to be honest I’ve been busy all morning,” the Virginia governor said. “You all know me, I do not call people names. I really work hard to bring people together and that’s what we’re working on … that’s not the way I roll, it’s not the way I behave and I think, again, this is a moment for us to come together as a nation.”
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While Trump endorsed Youngkin in 2021, the then-gubernatorial candidate stayed relatively distant from him. In the coming days before the election against Democratic opponent Terry McAuliffe, Youngkin avoided a rally held by Trump’s former adviser, Steve Bannon. (RELATED: McAuliffe Falsely Claimed Youngkin Holding Event With Trump Night Before Election)
The former president has mobilized his attacks against fellow Republicans following the outcomes in the midterm elections. Even before the midterms, Trump began mocking Republican Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis with the name “Ron DeSanctimonious,” and said Thursday that the governor struggled to receive support in his own state without his endorsement.
“Ron came to me in desperate shape in 2017—he was politically dead, losing in a landslide to a very good Agriculture Commissioner, Adam Putnam, who was loaded up with cash and great poll numbers. Ron had low approval, bad polls, and no money, but he said that if I would Endorse him, he could win,” Trump said in the statement.
DeSantis won the 2018 gubernatorial election against Democratic candidate Andrew Gillum by raking in slightly over 4 million votes after receiving Trump’s endorsement, according to The New York Times. Without Trump’s endorsement, the governor earned 4.6 million.