President Donald Trump threw his weight behind Lieutenant Governor Pam Evette in South Carolina's Republican gubernatorial primary on Friday, delivering a sharp rebuke to Representative Nancy Mace, who had been vying for the top job. In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump hailed Evette as an “America First Patriot” who “never wavered,” signaling a clear preference in a crowded field that also includes state Attorney General Alan Wilson and Representative Ralph Norman.
“Pam Evette is a good friend, fighter, and WINNER, and will be a terrific Governor of South Carolina,” Trump wrote. “Pam has my Complete and Total Endorsement — SHE WILL NEVER LET YOU DOWN!” The endorsement effectively sidelines Mace, who had been positioning herself as a conservative alternative but has drawn Trump's ire over her role in pressing for the release of files related to the Jeffrey Epstein investigation.
Mace responded swiftly on social media Friday evening, suggesting her advocacy for the Epstein files transparency bill—which Trump signed into law last year—cost her the endorsement. “I know I put the likelihood of an endorsement on the line when I demanded transparency on the Epstein files,” she wrote. “I demanded it because you deserved the truth – ALL OF IT – and as a survivor of a corrupt and broken court system, I will always pursue justice for those who deserve it. If sacrificing my values is the price of an endorsement, I will never pay it.”
The snub also extends to Norman, who had recently edged ahead of Mace in some polls. A Trafalgar Group survey released this week showed Evette and Wilson in a statistical tie among GOP primary voters, with Norman and Mace trailing. South Carolina's primary is scheduled for June 9, setting the stage for a contentious race where Trump's backing could prove decisive.
The president's endorsement comes amid a broader pattern of punishing Republican incumbents and candidates who cross him on high-profile issues. In a parallel move on Friday, Trump endorsed “MAGA warrior” Mike Mazzei in Oklahoma's gubernatorial race, despite Mazzei lagging behind two other GOP contenders. Trump's post praised Mazzei for his commitment to agriculture, border security, and the Second Amendment.
Trump has been touting his recent successes in primary battles against perceived Republican foes. After Representative Thomas Massie of Kentucky lost his primary to a Trump-backed challenger, critics linked his defeat to his co-leadership of the Epstein file disclosure effort. Massie warned after his loss that Trump's tactics could endanger the party's congressional majority in November. “I think it was dangerous to pare the tree tonight, but that's what happened,” Massie told MS NOW. “They got pruned, and we'll see if there's enough tree left there to win in November and to have a governing majority.”
The Epstein file issue has become a flashpoint in Republican primaries, with Trump's allies targeting those who pushed for full disclosure. Meanwhile, Attorney General Pam Bondi faced questions about the handling of those files in a recent House interview, where she deflected queries about Trump's involvement. The controversy echoes broader tensions within the party, as Trump continues to wield his endorsement power to shape the GOP's direction.
In South Carolina, the race for governor is now a test of whether Trump's backing can overcome the grassroots appeal of candidates like Mace, who has positioned herself as a reformer. With the primary less than two months away, Evette's campaign is likely to see a surge in support, while Mace and Norman scramble to regain momentum.
