Trump slams Dem candidate Mikie Sherrill as ‘fake and corrupt’ amid New Jersey governor race
WASHINGTON, DC: President Donald Trump, on Friday, October 24, took aim at New Jersey Democrat Mikie Sherrill, urging the voters to back Republican nominee Jack Ciattarelli in next month’s gubernatorial election.
Trump labelled Sherrill a “fake and corrupt radical left Democrat” during a telerally and warned that her election would push the state into a “death spiral.”
Trump takes a jab at New Jersey Democrat Mikie Sherrill
Trump spent much of the call talking about the state’s high energy bill, a key issue in the tight race. Sherrill, a four-term congressmember, has promised to declare a state of emergency and freeze energy costs.
“Mikie, as they call her — the only thing she’s got is an unusual name, other than that she’s terrible,” Trump said. He later added, “Mikie Sherrill looks [like] such an innocent name, but her energy policies would send your prices soaring and make New Jersey even more expensive than it already is.”
Trump also brought up an incident from 30 years back when Sherrill was not allowed to participate in her graduation ceremony.
According to her, it was because she didn’t tell on her classmates in a massive cheating scandal, and she went on to serve as a Navy helicopter pilot.
He said she “had lots of problems in school, lots of problems with honesty for a long time.”
Mikie Sherrill hits back at Trump
Sherrill said after the call that the event made clear that Ciattarelli would be the “Trump of Trenton” if he wins on November 4. She also criticized Ciattarelli for how he’s responded to Trump, saying he’ll withhold funding for the Gateway project to build new rail tunnels connecting New Jersey and New York.
“It’s no surprise Jack is campaigning with Trump in this final stretch, given he is running to be his lackey in New Jersey.
Jack has cheered Trump on as he rips away healthcare from hundreds of thousands of New Jerseyans and drives up costs while pocketing billions with his tariff regime,” Sherrill said in a statement.
“When Jack got Trump on the phone tonight, he couldn’t even bring himself to say a word about New Jersey commuters and Trump’s attack on the Gateway Tunnel Project. It’s pathetic,” she added.
Trump endorses Jack Ciattarelli ahead of New Jersey Governor race
During the telerally hours before he was set to depart for a potentially consequential trip to Asia, Trump pushed for the Republican nominee, Jack Ciattarelli. He also said that after the trip, he will “be out campaigning for Jack,” but did not elaborate on that.
Trump’s favorability is underwater in New Jersey, and Ciattarelli recently hosted a rally that featured MAGA stars but not Trump himself. Many people here think that if Trump campaigns too much, it could do more damage to Ciattarelli than good if he hits the trail.
This is the third time Ciattarelli is running for governor. In 2021, he came within three points of defeating incumbent Democrat Phil Murphy, who is now term-limited.
Ciattarelli, a former state assemblymember, used to be a critic of Trump but has since allied with him, even giving him an “A” grade during a recent debate.
During the call, Ciattarelli praised Trump’s policies at the southern border, killing offshore wind projects at the Jersey Shore, and signing the so-called Big Beautiful Bill, which, according to him, saves average residents about $5,000 a year.
