Trump wants another RINO removed from office.
President Donald Trump is throwing his support behind conservative voters in South Carolina as he urges Republicans to reject attorney general candidate David Pascoe in the upcoming GOP primary.
In a strongly worded Truth Social post, Trump criticized Pascoe’s political history and questioned whether the longtime prosecutor truly represents Republican values after spending years aligned with Democrats.
The president warned supporters that the South Carolina race is another important battle in protecting the America First movement from what many conservatives view as establishment-style Republicans attempting to rebrand themselves for political advantage.
Trump Questions Pascoe’s Conservative Record
Trump accused Pascoe of previously supporting former President Joe Biden and working alongside Democrats before recently switching to the Republican Party.
“There’s this RINO candidate in the Palmetto State named David Pascoe,” Trump wrote, arguing that South Carolina conservatives should reject candidates who only recently embraced Republican politics.
The president encouraged MAGA supporters across the state to vote against Pascoe in the June Republican primary and back candidates with stronger conservative credentials.
Trump’s comments quickly became one of the biggest political stories in South Carolina as early voting approaches in a race that could have major implications for the future direction of the state GOP.
Pascoe Fires Back After Trump Criticism
Pascoe responded by saying he believes Trump may have received inaccurate information from political insiders and outside groups.
Speaking in a phone interview Thursday evening, Pascoe said he still hopes to earn Trump’s support and argued that his record proves he is serious about law enforcement and government accountability.
“I’m disappointed in President Trump,” Pascoe said, while also expressing confidence that a direct conversation could change the president’s opinion.
Pascoe attempted to defend his decision to leave the Democratic Party, claiming Democrats had become increasingly weak on crime and public safety issues.
According to Pascoe, one of the biggest turning points came after former President Biden commuted the sentences of nearly all federal death row inmates during the final weeks of his administration.
Pascoe said he could no longer support policies that, in his view, prioritized criminals over victims and law-abiding Americans.
Biden Support Still Raises Questions
Despite his recent switch to the Republican Party, critics continue pointing to Pascoe’s past support for Biden during the 2020 election cycle.
Pascoe acknowledged he previously backed Biden but claimed he later distanced himself from the former president after Biden selected Kamala Harris as vice president.
The issue has now become a major talking point in the attorney general race as Republican voters weigh whether Pascoe’s political transformation is genuine.
Many conservative voters remain cautious about former Democrats seeking Republican office, especially at a time when the GOP base continues rallying around Trump’s America First agenda.
South Carolina Republicans Face Major Primary Battle
The June 9 Republican primary is expected to draw significant attention as South Carolina remains one of Trump’s strongest political states.
Pascoe is currently competing against fellow Republican candidates David Stumbo and state Representative Stephen Goldfinch in the race for attorney general.
Trump’s influence over Republican primaries has remained powerful nationwide, with many GOP candidates actively seeking his endorsement while others work to avoid becoming targets of criticism from the president and his supporters.
Political analysts say Trump’s involvement could play a major role in shaping turnout among conservative voters ahead of the primary election.
Even Pascoe admitted Trump’s popularity inside the Republican Party makes the situation challenging.
“Of course, it worries me,” Pascoe said when asked about the president’s criticism.
Still, Pascoe insisted voters would ultimately focus on his record and his plans to crack down on corruption and strengthen law enforcement across South Carolina.
Trump’s America First Movement Remains Strong
The South Carolina attorney general contest is shaping up as another test of Trump’s continued dominance inside the Republican Party.
As early voting nears, many conservatives view the race as part of a larger national battle over the future identity of the GOP, including whether Republican voters will continue prioritizing candidates closely aligned with Trump’s America First platform.
With Trump remaining overwhelmingly popular among Republican voters in South Carolina, his endorsement — or opposition — could once again prove decisive on Election Day.