Georgia
Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp snaps back at Trump after repeated attacks: 'Leave my family out of it'
Former President Donald Trump at a rally in Atlanta on Saturday again attacked Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp and the state’s Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, both of whom are Republicans, for their refusal to overturn the former president’s 2020 election loss to Joe Biden in the Peach State.
The governor responded by suggesting Trump should focus on winning in November and refrain from “petty personal insults, attacking fellow Republicans, or dwelling on the past.”
Before the rally, Trump criticized Kemp, a popular Republican governor in a must-win swing state for the Republican White House hopeful, and suggested the governor should be “fighting Crime, not fighting Unity and the Republican Party.”
Trump also criticized Kemp’s wife, Marty, for saying she would write in her husband’s name for president in November instead of voting for the former president.
“Brad Raffensperger has to do his job, and make sure this Election is not stolen,” Trump wrote on his social media platform Truth Social. “Brian Kemp should focus his efforts on fighting Crime, not fighting Unity and the Republican Party! His Crime Rate in Georgia is terrible, his Crime Rate in Atlanta is the worst, and his Economy is average.”
GEORGIA ACTIVIST STEALS THE SHOW AFTER BEING INTRODUCED BY TRUMP AT ATLANTA RALLY: ‘INCREDIBLE’
Former President Donald Trump holds a rally in the historically Democratic South Bronx on May 23, 2024, in New York City. (Spencer Platt/Getty Images)
Kemp has repeatedly been credited for Georgia’s strong economy during his time as governor and his approval rating in the state has soared, with a 63% approval rating in a June poll conducted by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
The governor narrowly defeated Democrat Stacey Abrams in the 2018 gubernatorial election after receiving Trump’s endorsement. In 2022, Kemp cruised to a win over Trump-backed former U.S. Sen. David Perdue, R-Ga., in the primary before defeating Abrams by seven and a half points in a rematch in the general election.
“He should be seeking UNITY, not Retribution, especially against the man that got him the Nomination through Endorsement and, without whom, he could never have beaten Stacey Abrams,” Trump wrote. “He and his wife didn’t think he could win. I said, ‘I’m telling you you’re going to win.’ Then he won, he was happy, and his wife said, ‘Thank you Sir, we’ll never be able to make it up to you!’ Now she says she won’t Endorse me, and is going to ‘write in Brian Kemp’s name.’ Well, I don’t want her Endorsement, and I don’t want his.”
“They’re the ones who got Fani Willis and her boyfriend all ‘jazzed up’ and ready to go. He could have ended that travesty with a phone call, but he doesn’t want to end it because he’s a bad guy,” he continued.
Trump was referring to Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis, whose office is prosecuting Trump’s election interference case in Georgia, and her controversial relationship with Nathan Wade, who was a prosecutor in the case before resigning earlier this year amid scrutiny over the relationship.
Kemp responded to the former president with a post on the social media platform X, saying: “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.”
“You should do the same, Mr. President, and leave my family out of it,” Kemp said.
Raffensperger also replied to Trump’s claims in a post of his own.
Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp looks on during the celebration honoring the Georgia Bulldogs national championship victory on Jan. 15, 2022, in Athens, Georgia. (Todd Kirkland/Getty Images)
“Georgia’s elections are secure,” Raffensperger wrote on X. “The winner here in November will reflect the will of the people. History has taught us this type of message doesn’t sell well here in Georgia, sir.”
Kemp, notably, signed Georgia’s Election Integrity Act into law in 2021 that includes requiring identification to vote, extending the early voting period and ensuring a ballot drop box will be available in every county.
During the rally on Saturday, Trump criticized Kemp in a 10-minute rant over baseless claims the governor was responsible for his loss to Biden and for not stopping Willis from prosecuting the Georgia election interference case. A state commission has powers to discipline and remove prosecutors for not following the law after Kemp signed a bill into law, but the governor does not have the ability to remove prosecutors.
“He’s a bad guy. He’s a disloyal guy. And he’s a very average governor. Little Brian, little Brian Kemp. Bad guy,” Trump said.
The former president has continued to repeat false claims the 2020 election was stolen from him.
Biden defeated Trump in Georgia by 11,779 votes in 2020, and the former president pressured Raffensperger to “find” enough votes for him to win. Trump and his allies also attempted to present slates of so-called “fake electors” that could replace the Democratic voters Biden won.
Trump was later indicted in Georgia for attempting to overturn the election, although the case is now on hold as the courts decide whether Willis can continue to prosecute it.
Kemp certified the electors that Biden won in 2020 and rejected efforts by Trump allies to replace them.
JD VANCE CALLS TRUMP’S OFFER TO DEBATE HARRIS ON FOX NEWS ‘MASTERSTROKE’
Brian Kemp, governor of Georgia, speaks during an election night rally in Atlanta, Georgia, on Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2022. (Elijah Nouvelage/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
The governor did not endorse anyone in this year’s GOP primary but has said he will vote for the Republican ticket in November, as Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris, who is now the Democratic Party’s presumptive nominee after Biden suspended his re-election campaign, look to win the battleground state of Georgia, which had gone to the Republican presidential candidate every year since 1996 before Biden won it four years ago.
Harris’ campaign correctly predicted before Trump’s rally that he would deny the 2020 election results.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
After the rally, the Harris campaign released a statement from former Georgia Lt. Gov. Geoff Duncan, who served alongside Kemp during the governor’s first term.
“If you were able to see through Donald Trump’s incoherence and vindictiveness tonight, you saw a Donald Trump who does not care about uniting this country or speaking to the voters who will decide this election,” Duncan said in the statement. “Millions of Americans are fed up with his grievance-filled campaign focused only on himself.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
The value of Georgia products sold overseas surpassed $60 billion last year, state officials said.
Georgia was ninth in the U.S. for exports in 2025, propped up by its logistics infrastructure of the world’s busiest airport, an extensive railroad network and the ports of Brunswick and Savannah (pictured). (Courtesy of Georgia Ports Authority 2024)
Despite a barrage of new tariffs imposed across the globe, Georgia saw another record year for international trade in 2025.
Total trade last year reached nearly $211 billion, up almost 6% from 2024. Imports, subject to many tariffs enacted by the Trump administration, made up most of that activity, growing about 3% to more than $150 billion, according to a state report released Thursday.
raey eulav edart ot ot taerht eht eht eht eht eht eht sffirat sffirat dessaprus etats dlos deppals esnopser drocer gnilleporp stcudorp stcudorp roirp .seicilop ,saesrevo rehto ro ro ro no fo fo tsegral-htnin ynam gnipmuj ni ni nworg morf morf ,stropxe retropxe etipsed seirtnuoc ,noillib emoceb dna tsomla evissergga a .S.U s’pmurT sihT tnediserP edam-aigroeG aigroeG dlanoD tuB %31 06$
saw pot emit eht eht eht eht etats etats .dias deknar slaiciffo tsil tsal ni ni retropxe .yrtnuoc ekorb sa ehT nI aigroeG ,4202 ,0202 tsegral-ht21 01
edart eht eht htgnerts etats slangis .dias ecneserp slaiciffo fo krowten gnirutcafunam scitsigol sti sti ,seirtsudni labolg yawetag rof noisnapxe ,evitomotua sa dna dna erutlucirga ,ecapsorea decnavda a s’aigroeG
s’aigroeG“ aigroeG“ raey-revo-raey ”,seulav edart eht eht eht ylppus setats etats tfihs dias .esaeler ,ecap gnicaptuo seitinutroppo fo fo ton wen noitan evom skram gnipeek tsuj ti si si otni ni ni ni ni sthgilhgih htworg labolg rof gnitropxe tropxe renoissimmoc sniahc dna dna dna a a ,nosliW .S.U poT tsaehtuoS taP cimonocE ,tnempoleveD tnemtrapeD ”.aisA 01
raey edart .seicilop fo htworg labolg gnirud gnitneirosid emac a s’aigroeG
dluow htiw hcihw gnidart edart pot ot ot tuohguorht eht eht eht sexat ,sffirat sffirat hcus thguos emos seires dias detailater ,srentrap stcap ro no no fo fo wen wen wen sboj tnemtsevni kni gnidulcni desopmi detropmi ,sdoog ngierof yllautneve seirtnuoc gnirb tsoob sa era dna dna a .S.U .S.U pmurT pmurT .ocixeM ynaM s’aigroeG adanaC ,5202
htiw drawpu ot eht erusserp ,strap no fo erom ynam ekam edam detropmi sdoog ngierof stropxe evisnepxe .rallod nac ,sreyub esuaceb sa era dna osla osla .S.U .S.U sffiraT
ot ot eht eht sffirat ,etats llams fo fo evah tsom-htruof detamitse tsoc sremusnoc noitilaoc sessenisub ssenisub noillib sa era yna dna dna tsivitca gnidrocca ediwdlroW eW edarT ehT .sffiraT yaP pihsrentraP aigroeG ,rebmeceD 31$
tuohtiw saw dewov rednu rednu ot ot taht yraropmet sffirat sffirat kees delur ylkciuq srewop tnenamrep .seno wen erom htnom msinahcem lagel wal tsal ti desopmi esopmi lagelli sah rof ycnegreme tnereffid lanoissergnoc .lavorppa dna na a .S.U pmurT pmurT ehT emerpuS truoC tuB
tI“ tI“ erehw rednu edart sffirat sffirat sffirat tnemetats dias niamer stcelfer laer ”.ytilibissop ycilop rehto fo ton naem gniganam ni gniog rof mrif gnivlove tnemnorivne seod rotcerid smotsuc ssenisub redaorb ”,yawa seitirohtua era dna dna dna yrosivda lanoitidda gnitnuocca a a a .yadsruhT yaJ ,ohC desab-atnaltA ,oirpA
raey htiw eulav pu pot ot ot ot esoht eht eht eht hcus s’etats tsubor niamer ,strap fo don ,yrtsudni ni emoh gniworg sdoog morf stropxe seinapmoc nailivic noillib noillib .erofeb sa dna dna yrallicna tfarcria ecapsorea a .nitraM deehkcoL s’tI maertsfluG s’aigroeG .proC ecapsoreA ,5202 4.61$ 6.21$
,selcihev pot rehto krowten rotom lacidem dedulcni stropxe tnempiuqe .secived ,sretupmoc snoitacinummoc dna s’aigroeG
Georgia’s top exported product in 2025 was civilian aircraft and ancillary parts, such as Gulfstream’s G500 and G600 aircraft seen on the assembly line in Savannah in December. (Hyosub Shin/AJC)
erew pot eht eht rof .stropxe snoitanitsed dna ,eropagniS sdnalrehteN ,ocixeM ynamreG aigroeG ,adanaC
eulav ,edart latot eht eht naht etats tops htneves esor .knar secalp eno fo fo won rewol sti ni ni rof rallod sa .S.U anaidnI aigroeG 4202
s’dlrow htiw eht eht daorliar strop fo krowten gnol scitsigol buh sah evisnetxe tseisub neeb dna dna na ,tropria a hannavaS aigroeG .kciwsnurB
ohw“ dlrow eulav detuot sdnasuoht eht eht eht eht eht etats llams nwohs ,esaeler ”.tcudorp fo fo ni evah eritne sessenisub osla ssorca a ,pmeK .voG edam-aigroeG nairB
htiW“ sraey elihw llew ew edart ot ot ot eht .dias sdrocer denoitisop strop ruo rehto erom ekam scitsigol yek si stnemtsevni dnalni ,erutcurtsarfni ni ni eh worg neve gniunitnoc ”,emoc latsaoc yticapac kaerb dna aigroeG
Amy Wenk is the consumer brands reporter for the AJC.
Cal entered tonight’s matchup against a destitute Georgia Tech side dusting themselves off from an unexpected loss to a middle of the road Pitt team. The Golden Bears were looking to stay on the bubble of the NCAA tournament, while Tech, who finished last in ACC play, were simply trying to finish out their season with pride. This game marked the beginning of what will prove to be a long road trip for the boys from Berkeley.
Tech came out red hot from 3, thanks to forward Kowacie Reeves, who went 5-8 from behind the arc in the first half, while the entire Cal team was 0-12. His 19 points provided the difference in a first half with long stretches where neither team could put the ball in the basket.
Cal were frustrated early offensively, with Justin Pippen and Dai Dai Ames held scoreless in the first half. Lee Dort proved his offensive value, as the highest scorer for the Bears in the first half, particularly finding success in the paint, and they started the second half off feeding him early inside with some success.
The Bears opened the second half strong, finding ways to run their sets and get more players looks around the basket. Simultaneously, Camden began to find his shot from three, and things began to fall into place for a Cal side that was already having a decent night on the boards.
Georgia Tech could not keep pace once Cal’s offense found a rythm, though they would have to do so without any scoring contributions from Justin Pippen, who went 0-7 from the field, but closed out the night with eight assists and two rebounds.
Ultimately, Tech’s 18 turnovers, and Cal’s persistence gave way to a Bears lead that wouldn’t be overcome. The Yellow Jackets did not have an answer for Lee Dort’s efforts in the paint, and when Dai Dai Ames found his footing on offense, eventually the game was all but finished. Despite a valiant effort, the Yellow Jackets could not maintain an offensive pace or defensive effort to keep up with Cal, who face Wake Forest this Saturday in another must win.
Gas prices surge as Iran war closes Strait of Hormuz
Gas prices rise as Iran closes the Strait of Hormuz threatening oil supply and raising fears of global economic fallout.
In the days since the initial U.S. strikes in Iran, countless lawmakers stateside have weighed in on the Trump Administration’s decision to once again get involved in a conflict in the Middle East.
Prominent Georgia political figures like former representative Marjorie Taylor Greene and Senators Ossoff and Warnock have denounced the attacks, while candidates to replace MTG and others running in midterm elections have backed the president.
Now, Georgia State Senator Greg Dolezal, who is running for Lieutenant Governor in November, has posted a controversial video to social media depicting a hypothetical scenario where an extreme version of what he calls “Sharia law” has taken over the United States.
“London has fallen. Europe is under siege. In America, the invaders who would rather pillage our generosity than assimilate are roaming Minnesota, New York and LA,” Dolezal said in the post. “As Lt. Governor, I will fight the enemy before they’re within the gates and keep Georgia safe and Sharia free.”
The video was marked with a content warning on X.
What does the video show?
The video, appearing to have been AI-generated, begins with two people walking toward a building and wearing head coverings, possibly hijabs, shaylas, Al-miras or khimars.
It then cuts to a man writing with frosting on a cake, possibly “Happy Easter,” but the letters are unclear. A figure dressed in all black runs into frame and slices the cake with a weapon like a Zulfiqar sword.
It goes on to show military vehicles driving down the street, a woman being stopped from driving, a group of men in head coverings shooting weapons into the air and a suicide bomber vest, all while playing a song with the lyrics “No Sharia.”
(Warning: the video may be disturbing for some viewers.)
Video called ‘disgusting’ and ‘racist’
The video was met with significant criticism, including from Democratic gubernatorial candidate Geoff Duncan.
“This is disgusting. People wonder why I became a Democrat, it’s because of the inexcusable hatred spewed by so many Republicans like Greg Dolezal. Hate, including Islamophobia, has no place in Georgia,” Duncan wrote on X.
Rev. James “Major” Woodall, Sr., of Atlanta, called the video “deeply racist.”
“As a Christian man who deeply loves Georgia, I pray you never become Lt. Governor,” Woodall wrote.
Emanuel Jones, of the state senate, called out his fellow representative and said “if you don’t know it yet, Georgia is better than this!!”
“We don’t need race baiting, fear mongering to get votes. Perhaps that (is) what the Republican Party has devolved into,” Jones said on X.
Dolezal got support, however, from MAGA personality Laura Loomer who commented “No Sharia!”
The video has also been reposted more than 1,000 times as of 2 p.m. on March 4.
Who is Greg Dolezal?
The state senator represents District 27, and is based in Alpharetta. He was sworn in to the Georgia Senate in 2019.
He is a small business owner and attended North Park University.
Irene Wright is the Atlanta Connect reporter with USA Today’s Deep South Connect team. Find her on X @IreneEWright or email her at ismith@usatodayco.com.
5-seed Oklahoma knocks off Florida 82-64 to advance to the SEC Women’s Basketball Tournament quarterfinals
Oregon Lottery Pick 4 results for March 5
Pennsylvania man arrested for allegedly feeding pet parakeet marijuana and beer
RI Lottery Numbers Midday, Numbers Evening winning numbers for March 5, 2026
South Carolina Lottery Pick 3, Pick 4 results for March 5, 2026
Florida High School Football Rankings: Top 25 teams – Oct. 21
Cleary's 21 help Le Moyne down Central Connecticut State 69-64 in OT
How old is Bo Nix? What to know about Oregon quarterback ahead of 2024 NFL Draft
99th annual Pony Swim held in Virginia
Indiana Members Credit Union announced as new anchor tenant at Bottleworks District
DOJ continues Biden autopen probe despite former president unlikely to face charges
Fact check: Did French border guards mock influencers returning from Dubai amid Iran war?
Iran’s fight for survival / The widening war / Trump’s nebulous goals : Sources & Methods
Map: 4.9-Magnitude Earthquake Shakes Louisiana
Paxton vows he’s ‘staying in this race’ even if Trump backs Cornyn in Texas GOP clash
-
World1 week agoExclusive: DeepSeek withholds latest AI model from US chipmakers including Nvidia, sources say
-
Wisconsin4 days agoSetting sail on iceboats across a frozen lake in Wisconsin
-
Massachusetts1 week agoMother and daughter injured in Taunton house explosion
-
Massachusetts3 days agoMassachusetts man awaits word from family in Iran after attacks
-
Maryland5 days agoAM showers Sunday in Maryland
-
Florida5 days agoFlorida man rescued after being stuck in shoulder-deep mud for days
-
Denver, CO1 week ago10 acres charred, 5 injured in Thornton grass fire, evacuation orders lifted
-
Oregon7 days ago2026 OSAA Oregon Wrestling State Championship Results And Brackets – FloWrestling