BEDMINSTER, N.J. — President Donald Trump reaffirmed his endorsement of Jack Ciattarelli in the upcoming New Jersey Republican primary, publicly dismissing claims from other candidates suggesting they have his backing.
One of those candidates, Bill Spadea, has been running commercials using a dated radio show clip where Trump praised the former radio host’s contributions as a talk show host. Those comments were not intended for Bill Spadea, the candidate, Trump’s team said.
The Great State of New Jersey has a very important Primary coming up on Tuesday. Get Out and Vote for Jack Ciattarelli, who has my Complete and Total Endorsement! His Opponents are going around saying they have my Endorsement, which is not true, I don’t even know who they are! -President Donald J. Trump
In a statement shared on his Truth Social media platform, Trump wrote, “Get Out and Vote for Jack Ciattarelli, who has my Complete and Total Endorsement! His Opponents are going around saying they have my Endorsement, which is not true, I don’t even know who they are!”
What did Bill Spadea do to Trump?
Spadea had called Trump a failure and called for his resignation after the mostly peaceful January 6th protest on Capitol Hill. He later supported Florida governor Ron DeSantis over Trump in the 2024 presidential primary election. Later, Trump grew angrier at Spadea after it was made public that he had paid his private LLC $250,000 from a non-profit PAC, Elect Common Sense and the Common Sense Club, which was using Trump and his wife’ Melania’s name to mislead donors nationwide.
It was rumored that Eric Trump was especially irate at Spadea once he learned that the former radio host was profiting from his mother and father’s name.
The endorsement solidifies the president’s stance ahead of Tuesday’s primary, where multiple GOP candidates are vying for the nomination in the state’s gubernatorial race.
Trump’s support is seen as a potentially influential factor in the race, particularly among Republican voters aligned with his political platform.
Ciattarelli, the former state assemblyman and 2021 GOP nominee for governor, has campaigned on a platform that includes fiscal reforms, school choice, and public safety. He previously lost to Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy by a narrow margin and is seeking a rematch in the general election.
Trump emphasized the stakes of the race in his message, stating, “New Jersey is a very important State that we must WIN. The whole World is watching.”
Ciattarelli’s campaign seeks to solidify support
The president’s statement comes as the Ciattarelli campaign works to solidify support among conservatives across the state. Trump’s endorsement has been featured in campaign materials and promoted through local GOP events.
No other Republican candidates in the race have received national-level endorsements. Despite this, some have reportedly claimed support from Trump or implied association, prompting the president’s direct repudiation.
