Attorney General Eric Schmitt and former Gov. Eric Greitens are both claiming that Donald Trump endorsed them in the GOP primary for Missouri Senate candidate after the former president released a statement endorsing “Eric” on Monday.
“I trust the Great People of Missouri, on this one, to make up their own minds, much as they did when they gave me landslide victories in the 2016 and 2020 Elections, and I am therefore proud to announce that ERIC has my Complete and Total Endorsement!” Trump said in the statement.
“I’m honored to receive President Trump’s endorsement. From the beginning, I’ve been the true MAGA Champion fighting against the RINO establishment backing Schmitt. President Trump said it best when he characterized Schmitt’s campaign as ‘great dishonesty in politics,'” Greitens wrote on Twitter shortly after Trump’s announcement.
Greitens resigned as governor in 2018 and was charged with felony invasion of privacy after allegedly trying to blackmail his former mistress with a naked picture if she revealed their relationship. His ex-wife also accused him of being abusive during their marriage.
His opponent in the GOP primary, Eric Schmitt also thanked Trump for his endorsement.
“I’m grateful for President Trump’s endorsement,” Schmitt said in a statement minutes after Greitens’ announcement. “As the only America First candidate who has actually fought for election integrity, border security & against the Left’s indoctrination of our kids—I’ll take that fight to the Senate to SAVE AMERICA!”
Trump has praised Greitens in the past calling him “smart” and “tough,” and his future daughter-in-law, Kimberly Guilfoyle also work on Greitens’ campaign.
However, recent polling shows Schmitt with a double digit lead over Greitens who is in third behind Rep. Vicky Hartzler.
Hartzler’s campaign responded to Trump’s endorsement announcement by congratulating a lesser known GOP Senate candidate, Eric McElroy.
“Congrats to Eric McElroy. He’s having a big night,” a statement shared by her campaign manager on Twitter read.
