Current:Home > MyGeorgia Gov. Brian Kemp warns GOP not to get "bogged down" in Trump indictment -ClearPath Finance
Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp warns GOP not to get "bogged down" in Trump indictment
View
Date:2025-04-18 12:06:57
Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp, who has tried to steer the Republican Party away from Donald Trump, called the latest charges against the former president a "distraction" from issues that he says presidential candidates should be talking about.
"For us to win the presidential race in 2024, we don't need to be distracted," Kemp told CBS News' Robert Costa in an interview on Monday. "We need to be focused on the future. We need to be telling the American people what we're for."
"President Trump has been targeted in a lot of different ways — many of them unfairly," he added. "But also I think there's some serious concerns in this indictment. But at the end of the day, there's a jury that's going to make that decision. And quite honestly, I think it's a distraction politically. I think in some ways it's exactly what the Democrats want."
Kemp said Republican candidates should be focused on issues like inflation, crime and border security, arguing that voters care more about those issues than the accusations against Trump.
"That's really what I believe Republicans need to stay focused on, and not get bogged down in the politics of this indictment," he said.
Kemp defied the former president by refusing to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election in the state as Trump falsely claimed he won. When Trump congratulated North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un in a recent social media post, Kemp responded: "Taking our country back from Joe Biden does not start with congratulating North Korea's murderous dictator."
"The reason I was critical of President Trump is because I think he needs to stay focused just like anybody else running for president on tackling those issues," Kemp told CBS News. "I don't think, ya know, congratulating Kim Jong Un is that kind of play that helps us win in November of 2024."
Kemp said any candidate hoping to win the swing state of Georgia must focus on the future.
"I think any politician that's running can be beaten and any politician that's running can win," he said. "If you're going to win at the end of the day in November, you better be focused on the future and you better be telling people what you're for."
- In:
- Georgia
- Donald Trump
- Brian Kemp
Caitlin Yilek is a politics reporter for CBS News Digital. Reach her at [email protected]. Follow her on Twitter: https://twitter.com/hausofcait
TwitterveryGood! (465)
Related
- US wholesale inflation accelerated in November in sign that some price pressures remain elevated
- Alabama man wanted in connection with multiple murders spotted in Arkansas, police say
- Bystanders in Vegas killed a man accused of assaulting a woman; police seek suspects
- Orange County judge can stand trial in wife’s shooting death, judge says
- Illinois governor calls for resignation of sheriff whose deputy fatally shot Black woman in her home
- CDK Global shuts down car dealership software after cyberattack
- Authorities arrest Alabama man wanted in connection with multiple homicides
- Jamie Lynn Spears Shares Rare Throwback Photo of Britney Spears' Sons Sean and Jayden
- Audit: California risked millions in homelessness funds due to poor anti-fraud protections
- Maryland lets sexual assault victims keep track of evidence via a bar code
Ranking
- Euphoria's Hunter Schafer Says Ex Dominic Fike Cheated on Her Before Breakup
- California firefighters gain on blazes but brace for troublesome hot weather
- A DA kept Black women off a jury. California’s Supreme Court says that wasn’t racial bias
- Second ship attacked by Yemen's Houthi rebels sinks in the Red Sea
- Paula Abdul settles lawsuit with former 'So You Think You Can Dance' co
- TikTok unveils interactive Taylor Swift feature ahead of London Eras Tour shows
- An East Texas town wants to revolutionize how the state cares for people living with memory loss
- Josh Gad confirms he's making a 'Spaceballs' sequel with Mel Brooks: 'A dream come true'
Recommendation
Jury selection set for Monday for ex-politician accused of killing Las Vegas investigative reporter
Off the Grid: Sally breaks down USA TODAY's daily crossword puzzle, The Price Is Right
Authorities arrest Alabama man wanted in connection with multiple homicides
2024 Men's College World Series championship series set: Tennessee vs. Texas A&M schedule
Taylor Swift Cancels Austria Concerts After Confirmation of Planned Terrorist Attack
Traveler from Missouri stabbed to death and his wife critically injured in attack at Nebraska highway rest area
In Bed-Stuy, a watermelon stand stands strong against tides of gentrification
Lululemon's New Crossbody Bag Is Pretty in Pink & the Latest We Made Too Much Drops Are Stylish AF