Lara Trump, co-chair of the Republican National Committee and daughter-in-law of former President Donald J. Trump, on Sunday blasted Maryland Republican Senate candidate Larry Hogan for urging Americans to “respect the ruling” against Trump. Hogan criticized a rare freshman candidate who gave the party a chance to win a seat that has been reliably held by Democrats.
Late Thursday afternoon, after a Manhattan jury announced it had reached a verdict, but before it was released, Hogan, a former Maryland governor, posted on social media: “Regardless of the outcome, I ask all Americans to respect the verdict and the legal process. At this dangerously divisive moment in our nation's history, all leaders, regardless of party, must not add fuel to the fire with further poisonous partisanship. We must reaffirm what has made this country great: the rule of law.”
The comments from Hogan, a moderate Republican and longtime critic of Trump, were not shocking, but they infuriated some of Trump's supporters who allege the trial was rigged, in part because of frustration that it took place in liberal New York City.
“Mr. Hogan does not deserve the respect of anybody in the Republican Party at this point, and frankly, if that's how he feels, he doesn't deserve the respect of anybody in America,” Mrs. Trump, who is married to Mr. Trump's son Eric, said in an interview with CNN, the latest sign that loyalty to Mr. Trump is becoming a crucial test within the Republican Party.
She did not directly answer a follow-up question from interviewer Casey Hunt about whether Republicans would continue to support Hogan. A spokesman for Hogan did not respond to a request for comment Sunday.
“So you're going to give Maryland's Senate seat to a Democrat and not support Larry Hogan?” Hunt asked.
“My point is, of course we want to win as a party, but it's unfortunate and I think he should have thought twice before saying that publicly,” Trump said.
Hunt then specifically asked if the Republican Party would use funds to support Hogan's campaign, to which Trump responded, “Well, I'll get to the financial details later, but I can tell you as the co-chair of the Republican Party, he should never have said that. I think it's ridiculous.”
Republican National Committee officials also declined to say yes or no when asked whether the committee would continue to support Hogan after Trump's interview. But Hogan said he needed to win over Trump supporters in Maryland, repeated Trump's claims that the trial was rigged and falsely tied to Biden and pointed to a social media post from Trump campaign adviser Chris LaCivita in which he wrote to Hogan, “You just finished the campaign.”
The Republican National Senatorial Committee, which works to elect Republicans to the Senate, was excited by Hogan's surprise entry in February, which suddenly gave Republicans a chance to garner support that would have been unlikely for any other candidate. In response to a request for comment, a spokesman for the committee said the committee would continue to support Hogan even if the RNC did not.
Spokesman Tate Mitchell noted that a Fox News reporter had posted on social media that Sen. Steve Daines of Montana, the chairman of the NRSC, had endorsed Hogan.
The Maryland Senate seat in question is being vacated by the retirement of incumbent Democrat Ben Cardin. Maryland has not elected a Republican to the Senate in more than 40 years, but Hogan was twice elected governor and is due to retire in 2023 with high approval ratings. He has rebelled against Republican orthodoxy on several issues, including Trump and abortion.