Trump’s ‘Martin Luther King Jr’ Mark Robinson goes missing from his North Carolina rally

Donald Trump returned for a campaign rally in North Carolina on Saturday, dealing with a situation he had a significant hand in shaping in this key battleground state.

Robinson, the Republican gubernatorial candidate whom Trump has often likened to Martin Luther King Jr., did not withdraw from the race by the deadline on Thursday, despite pressure from the NAACP, editorial boards from North Carolina newspapers, and some congressional Republicans.

This pressure followed a CNN report that brought to light Robinson's history of inflammatory remarks made on a porn website’s message board. Robinson, currently serving as North Carolina's lieutenant governor, had allegedly referred to himself in derogatory terms, advocated for reinstating slavery, and made numerous explicit comments.

Robinson wasn’t invited to the rally in Wilmington, and Trump made no reference to him in his speech.

Meanwhile, Vice President Kamala Harris, Trump’s Democratic opponent, launched a new television ad linking Trump to Robinson, marking the first time the Harris campaign has drawn this connection between Trump and a down-ballot candidate.

The ad doesn’t directly address Robinson’s controversial comments but combines Trump's past praise for him with some of Robinson's anti-abortion statements, including his support for a total statewide abortion ban with no exceptions.

The ad opens with clips of Trump’s high regard for Robinson, juxtaposed with Robinson’s own uncompromising stance on abortion and his call for a potential ban without exceptions in North Carolina.

This effort to associate Trump with Robinson comes as Harris strategizes on reaching 270 Electoral College votes, eyeing paths that include several battleground states like Arizona, Georgia, Nevada, and North Carolina. Polls suggest that Robinson is trailing his Democratic opponent, Attorney General Josh Stein, in the gubernatorial race.

Although Trump narrowly won North Carolina by a 1-point margin in 2020, current polls indicate a close contest with Harris this year. A loss of North Carolina's 16 electoral votes would significantly complicate Trump's route back to the presidency.

Ohio Senator JD Vance, Trump’s running mate, commented on the Robinson controversy, suggesting it would be resolved in the "court of public opinion," marking the most direct acknowledgment from Trump’s campaign regarding the matter so far. Vance emphasized that the decision ultimately lies with Robinson and the voters of North Carolina.

Following the CNN report, Trump’s campaign spokeswoman stated that Trump’s focus remains on winning the White House and securing North Carolina as part of that strategy, expressing confidence that voters would favor Trump’s record over that of the Biden-Harris administration.

Previously, Robinson had attended most of Trump’s recent events in North Carolina. He even spoke at Trump’s economy-focused rally in Asheville last month, and Trump had brought him onstage in Asheboro.

In March, during a Greensboro rally, Trump had praised Robinson as being even more impressive than Martin Luther King Jr., a compliment underscoring Trump’s high regard for the lieutenant governor.

Despite Robinson's history of making controversial remarks about the civil rights movement, school shooting victims, and the Holocaust, Trump endorsed him in March, continuing a pattern of backing candidates who have faced similar scrutiny but still secured their primary nominations, only to lose in general elections.

Some Republicans have conceded that the revelations about Robinson could jeopardize their chances of winning the governor’s office in North Carolina. Many have distanced themselves, with a planned fundraiser featuring Robinson and Tennessee Governor Bill Lee, the Republican Governors Association chair, now canceled.

Concerns are rising about whether Robinson’s potential poor showing could drag down other GOP candidates, including Trump. Senator Thom Tillis of North Carolina, recognizing the political challenges, urged Republicans to concentrate on races they have a realistic chance of winning, highlighting the presidential contest and other state elections.

Tillis suggested that if the allegations against Robinson are true, he should take responsibility for his actions and prioritize the future of North Carolina and the Republican Party over his campaign.

Conservative commentator Erick Erickson echoed this sentiment, warning that relying on Trump’s endorsement of candidates like Robinson often backfires, forcing Trump to divert resources to states he should have comfortably secured.