Trump backs Miyares in Virginia attorney general’s race, calls for Jones to drop out

In the fallout of newly revealed texts from Democratic candidate for attorney general Jay Jones, President Donald Trump endorsed his opponent, Republican incumbent Jason Miyares. Of the three statewide Republican candidates, only Miyares has secured the president’s endorsement.

“Democrat Jay Jones should drop out of the Race, IMMEDIATELY, and the People of Virginia must continue to have a GREAT Attorney General in Jason Miyares who, by the way, has my Complete and Total Endorsement,” Trump wrote on his social media platform Truth Social. “JASON WILL NEVER LET YOU DOWN!”

The Miyares campaign declined to comment on the president’s endorsement.

In the post, Trump also called on Jones to drop out of the race and blasted the Democratic nominee over the text messages, which were sent in 2022 and described a scenario of hypothetical violence against then-Virginia Speaker of the House Todd Gilbert and his children. Jones has since issued an apology.

Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears, the Republican candidate for governor, attended the Navy’s 250th anniversary celebration in Norfolk, where Trump spoke Sunday. Though the president described the event as a political rally, he did not take the opportunity to endorse Earle-Sears.

In August, Trump told reporters he “would” endorse Earle-Sears for governor, but stopped short of making that endorsement.

The Earle-Sears campaign did not respond to a request for comment on whether the lieutenant governor is still seeking the president’s endorsement. In 2022, Earle-Sears said in a TV interview that she would not support Trump if he ran for election a third time.

Virginia is one of just two states in the country with an off-cycle gubernatorial election this year. By contrast, Trump has endorsed Jack Ciattarelli, the Republican candidate for governor in New Jersey.

Kate Seltzer, 757-713-7881, kate.seltzer@virginiamedia.com

https://www.dailypress.com/2025/10/06/trump-backs-miyares-virginia-attorney-general/