Trump criticizes Bob Good in person and on Truth Social before Virginia primary

Donald Trump on Thursday took aim at House Freedom Caucus Chairman Bob Good (R-VA) as the former president actively campaigns against the Republican incumbent in his primary election next week.

In a closed-door meeting on Thursday, Trump addressed GOP lawmakers to strategize ahead of the 2024 election and how the party can remain unified heading into November. But the former president also wasted no time to get in a handful of subtle jabs at other prominent Republicans, including some who were in the room, according to members present.

At one point during the roughly hourlong meeting, Trump touted his endorsement record so far in the 2024 cycle, noting he’s sure it makes “most of you guys happy,” one lawmaker told the Washington Examiner. And, he added, there are likely “a few of you who are not going to like that now,” the lawmaker said.

The comment was likely a subtle jab — or “not-so-subtle jab,” the lawmaker added — to Good, who faces a tough primary challenge next week against state Rep. John McGuire. Trump has endorsed McGuire as he looks to oust Good and has even gone so far as to repeatedly say the Republican lawmaker is “BAD FOR VIRGINIA AND BAD FOR THE USA.”

The Washington Examiner contacted Good’s office for comment on the behind-the-scenes comment but has not yet received a response.

The tension did not let up after the meeting, with Trump once again posting about Good shortly after meeting with House Republicans, accusing the Freedom Caucus leader of “turn[ing] his back on our incredible movement.”

“[Good] was constantly attacking and fighting me until recently, when he gave a warm and ‘loving’ Endorsement — But really, it was too late,” Trump said in a post on Truth Social. “The damage had been done! I just want to MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN, and the person that can most help me do that is Navy Seal and highly respected State Legislator, John McGuire, a true American Hero.”

Good first fell out of favor with Trump by backing Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL) for the GOP presidential nomination early last year. He attempted to repair the relationship after the governor suspended his campaign, endorsing Trump within minutes of the announcement. Most recently, he appeared at Trump’s hush money trial in New York City earlier this month.

But things got even more hairy last month when the Trump campaign issued a cease-and-desist letter to Good demanding he stop displaying campaign materials that suggest he has the former president’s support.

“To be clear, neither you nor your campaign are authorized to use President Trump’s name or the Campaign’s to falsely imply their support of your candidacy,” the letter said, according to a copy obtained by the Washington Examiner. “Nor are you or your campaign authorized to claim that you represent or are otherwise associated with President Trump or the Campaign.”

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Good had also previously touted Trump’s support on his campaign website by citing the former president’s endorsement during the 2022 midterm elections. That endorsement has since been removed from his website.

Trump’s comments came as the former president made the rounds with GOP lawmakers in Washington, D.C., this week, including a meeting with Republican senators later Thursday afternoon. The former president will meet with House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) again in Mar-a-Lago on Monday, along with National Republican Congressional Committee Chairman Richard Hudson (R-NC).