Donald Trump’s Attacks on Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp Can Only Hurt Republicans

Beyond the gratifying catharsis Donald Trump experiences when he allows himself to litigate his many grievances with his fellow Republicans — foremost among them, their refusal to support his efforts to prevent the certification of the 2020 election results — it’s not clear what tangible benefits the former president accrues from that exercise. But if the advantages are hard to discern, the downsides aren’t.

The most recent target of Trump’s ire is one of his favorites, Georgia governor Brian Kemp. In advance of one of his rallies in the Peach State, Trump took to his proprietary social-media platform to savage Kemp, Kemp’s wife, and Republican secretary of state Brad Raffensperger for letting him down after the 2020 race. “My focus is on winning this November and saving our country from Kamala Harris and the Democrats — not engaging in petty personal insults, attacking fellow Republicans, or dwelling on the past,” Kemp replied. “You should do the same, Mr. President, and leave my family out of it.”

About the Author

Noah Rothman

Noah Rothman is a senior writer at National Review. His third book, Blood and Progress: A Century of Left-Wing Violence, was published by Hachette in May 2026.

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Beyond the gratifying catharsis Donald Trump experiences when he allows himself to litigate his many grievances with his fellow Republicans — foremost among them, their refusal to support his efforts to prevent the certification of the 2020 election results — it’s not clear what tangible benefits the former president accrues from that exercise. But if the advantages are hard to discern, the downsides aren’t.

The most recent target of Trump’s ire is one of his favorites, Georgia governor Brian Kemp. In advance of one of his rallies in the Peach State, Trump took to his proprietary social-media platform to savage Kemp, Kemp’s wife, and Republican secretary of state Brad Raffensperger for letting him down after the 2020 race. “My focus is on winning this November and saving our country from Kamala Harris and the Democrats — not engaging in petty personal insults, attacking fellow Republicans, or dwelling on the past,” Kemp replied. “You should do the same, Mr. President, and leave my family out of it.”

About the Author

Noah Rothman

Noah Rothman is a senior writer at National Review. His third book, Blood and Progress: A Century of Left-Wing Violence, was published by Hachette in May 2026.