Republican senators found themselves in a tight spot on Sunday, unable to issue a clear denouncement of North Carolina GOP gubernatorial candidate Mark Robinson after CNN exposed a trove of his past antisemitic and racist remarks. This comes as Donald Trump, the party’s leading figure, remains silent on Robinson’s controversial history.
CNN reported Thursday that Robinson, using the handle “minisoldr,” made inflammatory statements on a pornographic forum from 2008 to 2012, including a disturbing self-identification as a “Black NAZI” and a blatant disdain for Jews. While Robinson vehemently denied the allegations, he has yet to provide any evidence to back his claims.
Sen. Tom Cotton (R-AR) responded to the revelations on CNN’s State of the Union by describing them as “concerning allegations,” insisting Robinson owes North Carolina voters an explanation. However, instead of holding Robinson accountable, Cotton diverted the discussion, suggesting that Kamala Harris has more to answer regarding her relationship with Jewish voters.
When asked whether Trump should continue supporting Robinson, Cotton sidestepped the question, saying, “I’ll leave that to President Trump, and most importantly, I’ll leave it to the people of North Carolina.”
Even as Trump held a rally in North Carolina over the weekend, he failed to mention Robinson, despite endorsing him back in March. Vice presidential nominee Sen. JD Vance (R-OH) was equally evasive when questioned about Robinson’s denials, stating, “the allegations are out there, I don’t know if they are true or not,” a statement that hardly inspires confidence.
Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) attempted to bolster Robinson’s defenses during an appearance on Meet the Press, suggesting he hire the best lawyer to sue CNN if the claims were false. “If they’re true, he’s unfit to serve for office. If they’re not true, he has the best lawsuit in the history of the country for libel,” Graham warned, leaving his support hanging by a thread.
Meanwhile, former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie bluntly criticized Trump’s influence, stating, “As long as Donald Trump is your recruiting agent for candidates in swing states, we’re gonna continue to get our rear ends handed to us.” He labeled the situation surrounding Robinson as “predictable,” reflecting the party’s troubling trajectory.
Robinson’s Democratic opponent, North Carolina Attorney General Josh Stein, seized the opportunity to call out the GOP, asserting that Robinson exists due to Trump’s endorsement.
“Robinson exists because Donald Trump has lifted him up throughout,” Stein said. “And candidates up and down the ballot in North Carolina need to have—they need to be held accountable for supporting Mark Robinson and being part of his entire campaign.
As the fallout continues, Senate Republicans are left twisting themselves into pretzels, desperately trying to reconcile their support for Robinson with the damaging allegations against him. The silence from Trump only adds to their predicament, highlighting a party struggling to define its values in the face of extremism.
See the clips below:
"These are concerning allegations … I'll leave it to the people of North Carolina" — Tom Cotton won't fully disavow Mark Robinson pic.twitter.com/KT6F8tXdCH
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) September 22, 2024
WATCH: Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) says Mark Robinson "deserves a chance to defend himself" when asked if Donald Trump should pull his endorsement of the North Carolina Republican.@LindseyGrahamSC: "The charges are beyond unnerving. If they're true, he's unfit to serve." pic.twitter.com/74H4W52ULG
— Meet the Press (@MeetThePress) September 22, 2024
