In response to Donald Trump’s handpicked RNC leadership team’s close ties to MAGA extremist and Trump-endorsed Republican candidate for North Carolina Governor Mark Robinson, DNC Spokesperson Kenny Palmer released the following statement: 

“It’s inexcusable that the leaders of the Republican Party, North Carolinians Lara Trump and Michael Whatley, have failed to disavow Mark Robinson. After previously praising Robinson as someone who will deliver ‘change’ to North Carolina and dismissing his horrifying record as ‘not a concern at all,’ it is absolutely unacceptable that Donald Trump’s handpicked RNC leadership is continuing to stand behind this kind of repulsive and disgraceful extremism. Mark Robinson, Lara Trump, and Michael Whatley don’t represent North Carolinians and they’re too extreme for the Tar Heel State.” 

Donald Trump’s handpicked RNC leaders Michael Whatley and Lara Trump have praised and stood behind Mark Robinson — with Lara Trump even saying Robinson’s extreme, hateful record isn’t a “concern at all.” 

Michael Whatley: “Congratulations to @markrobinsonNC for winning the NC Gubernatorial Primary.  North Carolina voters have delivered a resounding message that they want change in the Governor’s Mansion and Mark Robinson is ready to deliver it! #NCGOP”

NC Newsline: “Michael Whatley, the current head of the North Carolina Republican Party, was on-hand at the North Carolina Renewal Project events at which Robinson spoke. He praised Robinson as the greatest Lt. Governor in the United States.”

WFAE: “‘It was a great day to be a Republican here in North Carolina,’ said North Carolina GOP Chair Michael Whatley… ‘When it comes to the Council of State, Mark Robinson winning the lieutenant governor’s race by 178,000 votes, very historic and we’re excited about that.’”

Bloomberg: “As you look at your home state, are you worried the gubernatorial candidate there, Mark Robinson, could actually create a drag on Donald Trump’s chances? Is he a problematic candidate for the Republican Party? 

Lara Trump: “No, listen, I don’t think you have ever seen that sort of movement for Donald Trump, in fact, I would say it is the opposite, it’s Donald Trump typically helps out the candidates in these various races, down ballot races, whether it is within the state or for the House or the Senate. And so that’s not a concern at all.”

Like Trump, Robinson has a long and shameful history of spewing hate, conspiracy theories, and election denialism. 

Rolling Stone: “Trump’s Pick for NC Gov. Called Himself a ‘Black Nazi,’ MLK ‘Worse Than a Maggot’”

“As recently as a few weeks ago, the Trump campaign was doubling down on its support for Robinson, despite his long, diverse history of controversies. RNC co-chair, and Trump’s daughter-in-law Lara Trump told Bloomberg in late August that she was unconcerned about the possibility Robinson could be a drag on the former president’s performance in North Carolina. 

“‘In fact I would say it’s the opposite. Donald Trump typically helps out the candidates in these races, down-ballot races,’ she countered. ‘So that’s not a concern at all.’”

CNN: “‘I’m a black NAZI!’: NC GOP nominee for governor made dozens of disturbing comments on porn forum”

Charlotte Observer: “Robinson said he owns AR-15s, a type of semiautomatic assault rifle, so he can fight back ‘in case the government gets too big for its britches.’”

Robinson: “When the chips are down, when the FBI is knocking on my door, will I cower, will I comply, or will I stand up and fight? Folks, it’s time to stand up and fight.”

HuffPost: “Mark Robinson’s Bizarre Ramble: ‘I Absolutely Want To Go Back To The America Where Women Couldn’t Vote’”

Daily Beast: “God Doesn’t Want Women to Lead, Says N.C. Lieutenant Governor”

HuffPost: “The Unbelievably Bonkers Conspiracy Theorist Running For Governor Of North Carolina”

“North Carolina GOP gubernatorial candidate Mark Robinson has said it himself: He’s a conspiracy theorist.”

“Robinson, who is the state’s lieutenant governor, has said he ‘wouldn’t be surprised’ if the 1969 moon landing was fake and the 9/11 terrorist attacks were an ‘inside job.’ He’s ‘SERIOUSLY skeptical’ of President John F. Kennedy’s assassination and of the 2017 mass shooting in Las Vegas. He falsely accused David Hogg, a survivor of the 2018 mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, of being a paid actor. He’s claimed that climate change is based on ‘junk science.’”

WRAL: “Robinson said this Sunday during a church service outside Charlotte that God created him specifically to fight against the push for LGBTQ rights and visibility, which he says is turning America into a ‘hellhole.’ ‘I was not crafted to be Mr. Nicey-Nice,’ Robinson said. ‘… God formed me because he knew there was going to be a time when God’s learning was going to be intolerable to the wicked. When children were going to be dragged down to go see the drag show. When pornography was going to be presented to our children in schools.’ Later on, he also slammed Christian churches that are accepting toward gay and lesbian people. ‘Makes me sick every time I see it — a church that flies that Rainbow flag, which is a direct spit in the face of God almighty,’ he said.”

Talking Points Memo: “In particular, the Black community has been a major target for Robinson. In various posts over the years he referred to Black people as ‘muddle headed negroes,’ ‘apes,’ and ‘a monkey.’ ‘February is Black History Month. I guess the shortest month of the year is all we need to learn about the separate but equal history of a people who have achieved so little,’ Robinson wrote in 2014.”

Jewish Insider: “Last fall, Raleigh’s News & Observer unearthed an interview in which Robinson spoke with a fringe pastor, Sean Moon, who claimed that the modern incarnation of the four horsemen of the apocalypse includes China, the CIA, Islam and the Rothschild family of ‘international bankers that rule every single national or federal reserve-type style of central bank in every single country.’ Rather than objecting to the blatantly antisemitic conspiracy theory, Robinson grunted along in agreement. ‘That’s exactly right,’ he said.”

HuffPost: “Top GOP Candidate For N.C. Governor Has A History Of Demeaning Successful Women.”

News & Observer: “‘Yeah, I said that.’ Mark Robinson embraced Trump’s false claims on 2020 election”

“[Trump] continues to push false claims about the election, and an audio recording obtained by The News & Observer shows Robinson has embraced those claims. Robinson, who has endorsed Trump, said in a speech at a church in 2021 that Biden ‘stole the election,’ the recording shows.”