In a move signaling a thaw in their strained relationship, Georgia Governor Brian Kemp (R) is set to co-headline a fundraiser for former President Donald Trump’s 2024 campaign in Atlanta on Thursday. Kemp will appear alongside his wife, Marty Kemp, and former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo at the event.
The fundraiser comes on the heels of Trump publicly praising Kemp following the governor’s interview on Fox News with Sean Hannity last week. During the interview, Kemp voiced his support for Trump’s reelection, stating, “We need to send Donald Trump back to the White House. We need to retake the Senate. We need to hold the House.”
In response, Trump took to Truth Social to express his gratitude, writing, “Thank you to #BrianKempGA for all of your help and support in Georgia, where a win is so important to the success of our Party and, most importantly, our Country. I look forward to working with you, your team, and all of my friends in Georgia to help MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!”
The fundraiser marks a significant step in mending the fractured relationship between Kemp and Trump, which has been strained since the 2020 election when Trump narrowly lost Georgia to President Biden. In the aftermath, Trump repeatedly pressured Kemp and Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger to challenge the results, leading to an ongoing rift between the two Republicans.
Georgia is expected to be a crucial battleground state in the 2024 presidential election. In 2020, Biden won the state by fewer than 12,000 votes. A recent Decision Desk HQ/The Hill average of polls shows Trump leading Vice President Kamala Harris by nearly 3 percentage points in the state.
The Thursday fundraiser is being hosted by former Trump State Department Counselor Ulrich Brechbuhl, former Senator Kelly Loeffler (R-Ga.), and former ambassadors Ed McMullen and Duke Buchan. The event, originally scheduled to feature only Pompeo, was expanded to include Kemp and his wife after the governor’s supporters urged him to attend.
As Georgia prepares for a pivotal election in 2024, the participation of Governor Kemp in Trump’s fundraiser highlight the importance of party unity and the potential impact of their collaboration on the state’s electoral outcome.
The event serves as a symbolic step in mending the rift between the two Republican leaders and focusing their efforts on securing victories for the GOP in the upcoming election cycle.
