Kemp says DNC is ‘sugar high,’ voices full-throated support of Trump
ATLANTA - The frosty relationship between Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp and former President Donald Trump may be getting a little bit warmer.
Speaking on Sean Hannity’s show on FOX News on Thursday evening during the final night of the Democratic National Convention, Kemp says the Peach State cannot afford another four years under a Democratic president.
"We gotta win. We gotta win from the top of the ticket on down," the Republican governor told Hannity.
Kemp says things would be even worse with a Harris-Walz win than they were under President Joe Biden.
"We need to send Donald Trump back to the White House. We need to retake the Senate. We need to hold the House," Kemp said. "We need to hold the legislative majorities we have in the great state of Georgia."
Kemp says the GOP in Georgia has been working hard to ensure the base shows up on Election Day.
"We cannot take this for granted. We got to get the vote out," Kemp said.
SEE ALSO: Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens spotlights Georgia's central role at 2024 DNC
Kemp says the "joy" being touted at the 2024 Democratic National Convention in Chicago this week is nothing more than a "sugar high."
"I feel the joy is subsiding and when the sugar high of the convention subsides, people are going to really start thinking ‘It’s not so joyful when I look in my bank account. It’s not joyful when I can’t make my car payment or my rent payment or I have to decide to buy gas or buy groceries.’"
Harris at DNC: 'A chance to chart a New Way Forward'
Vice President Kamala Harris is telling voters they have a chance to chart a "new way forward" as Americans this November, as she looks to introduce herself to voters and prosecute her case against Republican Donald Trump Thursday night as she accepts her party's nomination at the Democratic National Convention. Harris walked onstage to thunderous applause and a long standing ovation that last at least three minutes as convention-goers chanted her name.
Kemp also touched on border security and immigration, telling Hannity the current policies are a disaster.
"The millions and millions of illegal people that are in our country that are getting better benefit than our hardworking Georgians and hardworking Americans out there," Kemp said.
Kemp’s interview coincided with Rep. Lucy McBath leading a group of anti-gun violence advocates at the DNC.
SEE ALSO: Rep. Lucy McBath, other families of gun violence shine spotlight at DNC
Trump responds to Kemp’s interview
Former President Donald Trump took to his Truth Social account within minutes of Kemp wrapping up his FOX News interview to voice his approval, posting:
"Thank you to #BrianKempGA for all of your help and support in Georgia, where a win is so important to the success of our Party and, most importantly, our Country. I look forward to working with you, your team, and all of my friends in Georgia to help MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!"
WATCH THE FULL FOX NEWS INTERVIEW
The relationship between Trump and Kemp has not always been amicable. The two verbally locked horns during the COVID-19 pandemic over reopening the state for business. Kemp also, earlier this year, admitted publicly he did not vote for Trump in the primary election.
Meanwhile, Trump has consistently voiced his displeasure with Kemp for not challenging Georgia's 2020 presidential election results after President Joe Biden narrowly won the state's 16 electoral votes.
Trump also threw his support behind a primary challenger running against Kemp in 2022. Kemp defeated Trump-backed former Sen. David Perdue and ended up winning by an even wider margin than he did in the 2018 general election.
Their often-cantankerous relationship boiled over earlier this month at a rally in Atlanta, Trump railed against Kemp for about 10 minutes over not giving into his false theories of election fraud. He also blamed the governor for not stopping a local district attorney from prosecuting him and others for their efforts to overturn the results.
"He’s a bad guy. He’s a disloyal guy. And he’s a very average governor," Trump said. "Little Brian, little Brian Kemp. Bad guy."
Trump also took aim at Georgia first lady Marty Kemp, for saying she would write in her husband’s name for president this fall instead of voting for the Republican nominee.
The jab forced Kemp to take to social media to defend his position and wife, explaining that he is solely focused on winning for the Republican Party, adding:
"You should do the same, Mr. President, and leave my family out of it."
Trump still leads polls in Georgia, but Harris has momentum
This move may signal a willingness to set aside grievances in an effort to beat Vice President Kamala Harris, who officially accepted her party’s nomination for president the same night.
"On Thursday, Republicans breathed a sigh of relief. President Trump and Gov. Kemp seemed to make up," said GOP strategist Brian Robinson, of Robinson Republic. "That's going to be a very important partnership, not just for the Trump campaign but for Republican candidates down the ballot."
Robinson said the reconciliation ensures the Republican party is unified and committed to delivering the state for Trump.
"There’s obviously been some sort of behind-the-scenes truce negotiated between the friends around these two gentlemen. I’m told there may have been a phone conversation earlier today that led to Kemp going on Hannity and saying nice things about Trump by name—which he has avoided doing, and then the social media posted by Trump praising Gov. Kemp and thanking him for his help in Georgia," said GOP strategist Brian Robinson, of Robinson Republic.
Recent polls show the former president maintains his lead in Georgia, but Harris is gaining ground.
"I think Republicans are laser-like focused on unity, to the best of their ability, to try to stop this momentum that has been ongoing between the Harris-Walz ticket," explained Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson.
Have Trump and Kemp made up?
Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp went on Sean Hannity's show on FOX News on Thursdays evening to give his full-throated support for former President Donald Trump. In response, Trump praised the governor. The two have shared an often-contentious relations, but it now appears they are ready to bury the hatch for the good of the Republican Party.
Johnson believes the newfound truce is nothing more than political theater.
"Brian Kemp doesn't need Donald Trump. Trump needs Kemp and that's why you saw sort of a rearranging of the rhetoric," Johnson said.
"Trump knows that if he loses Georgia, it is highly likely he will not win this campaign. Which is why you see he is putting a lot of resources into the state, and he is making up with a very popular Governor who he has insulted," Johnson said.
Whatever the reason, it appears the pot is off the burner and the water is cooling down between the two Republican politicians, at least for now.
"This is a huge first step. I would love to hear similar about Attorney General Chris Carr and Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger. Nothing brings a party together like a tight margin," said Robinson.
As for Kemp, he says he is knocking on doors and getting the word out about Trump all the way down the ticket for the Republican Party.
FOX News and FOX 5's Diedra Dukes, Brittany Edney and Brooke Zauner contributed to this report