“I have known and respected Steve Hilton, who’s running for California Governor, for many years. He is a truly fine man, one who has watched as this once great State has gone to Hell. Gavin Newscum and the Democrats have done an absolutely horrendous job. People are fleeing, crime is increasing, and Taxes are the highest of any State in the Country, maybe the World. Steve can turn it around, before it is too late, and, as President, I will help him to do so! With Federal help, and a Great Governor, like Steve Hilton, California can be better than ever before! Steve Hilton has my COMPLETE and TOTAL ENDORSEMENT. He will be a GREAT Governor and, importantly, WILL NEVER LET YOU DOWN!!!” posted convicted felon President Trump at 1:22 AM on Monday.
If Trump wanted to get a Republican elected as governor of California this is EXACTLY what he should not have done and consolidated the GOP side of the top-two “jungle primary” field in which Steve Hilton and that MAGA sheriff had led given the self-cannibalization on the Dem side. Staying out of it would have been the thing to do. Trump did not stay out of it, and now it’s far likelier that all the GOP votes will accrue to Hilton, one of the Dems – possibly Eric Swalwell – will come in second in the primary, and then proceed to absolutely crush Hilton in the general in November.
Trump could’ve just waited until after the primary to endorse if he really wanted Hilton to win.