Resurfaced anti-trump comments could damage bill spadea’s gubernatorial bid in new jersey

Resurfaced anti-Trump comments could damage Bill Spadea’s gubernatorial bid in New Jersey

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1 min read
January 13, 2025

TRENTON, N.J. — New Jersey gubernatorial candidate Bill Spadea is facing renewed scrutiny after past criticisms of former President Donald Trump resurfaced, potentially jeopardizing his support among Trump loyalists in the state.

A 2022 tweet from Spadea has gained attention, in which he wrote, “Trump served an incredible historical purpose. He reminded us about the greatness of America, but his time has passed. Move on, it’s common sense.”

Spadea, a conservative radio host and prominent GOP figure, also previously criticized Trump’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic. “President Trump had every opportunity to right the wrongs, but he didn’t. Instead of leading, he followed the advice of bureaucrats, played politics, and ultimately apologized for things he wasn’t responsible for,” Spadea said.

Photo: resurfaced anti-trump comments could damage bill spadea’s gubernatorial bid in new jersey

He further accused Trump of allowing the CDC to fuel public fear, stating, “He could have fired Fauci, stopped the lockdowns in April, and rallied the country around the reality that COVID wasn’t as deadly as the media claimed.”

These remarks could complicate Spadea’s efforts to secure the support of Trump-aligned voters, a significant faction within New Jersey’s Republican base.

Spadea is not alone in distancing himself from Trump. Former gubernatorial candidate Jack Ciattarelli once called Trump a “charlatan” unfit for office.

New Jersey State Sen. Jon Bramnick (R-Union), another GOP contender, criticized Trump for damaging the Republican brand. “[Trump’s presidency] caused a problem for the Republican brand,” Bramnick said, citing concerns about public trust following the January 6 Capitol riot.

The resurfacing of Spadea’s remarks adds to the growing divide within New Jersey’s Republican Party as it prepares for the 2025 gubernatorial race.

With most of the candidates running for governor having extensive anti-Trump statements in the past, could those dueling statements cancel each other out, or will Republican voters in Trump-supporting areas like the Jersey Shore and Skylands area lead voters to other alternatives such as former state senator Edward “Ed the Trucker” Durr and former gubernatorial candidate Joseph Rullo?

Other potential candidates in the New Jersey GOP primary could include Trump loyalists Mike Crispi and Roger Stone.

Phil Stilton is the Editor and Publisher of Shore News Network, an independent digital newsroom providing original reporting on New Jersey, national news, government, public policy, public safety, courts, and community affairs.

As founder of the publication, Stilton leads editorial strategy, investigative reporting, and daily newsroom operations while overseeing coverage that reaches millions of readers annually.

With extensive experience covering municipal government, county government, state legislatures, elections, law enforcement, emergency management, and public records, Stilton specializes in translating complex government actions into clear, factual reporting. His work frequently relies on primary source documents, including court filings, legislation, public meeting records, election finance disclosures, government databases, police reports, and Freedom of Information and Open Public Records Act (OPRA) requests. He has reported extensively on local government accountability, taxpayer spending, campaign finance, public corruption investigations, infrastructure, public safety, and the policies affecting New Jersey residents.

Under Stilton's editorial leadership, Shore News Network has grown into one of New Jersey's largest independent digital news organizations, publishing thousands of original news articles each year while providing breaking news coverage, investigative reporting, and analysis across state and local government. The publication's reporting is routinely sourced from official government agencies, public officials, court records, and firsthand documentation, with a commitment to transparency, attribution, corrections when warranted, and clearly distinguishing factual reporting from opinion.

Stilton's journalism follows established newsroom standards emphasizing accuracy, verification, fairness, and accountability. Every effort is made to verify information through official records and multiple reliable sources before publication. His reporting is intended to provide readers with timely, well-documented information that helps them understand the issues affecting their communities, while maintaining editorial independence from political parties, government agencies, advocacy organizations, and commercial interests.

Readers can submit story tips, corrections, public records, or media inquiries through the official Shore News Network website or its verified social media channels. Shore News Network welcomes corrections and updates when new information becomes available as part of its ongoing commitment to accurate and transparent journalism.

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