WEST COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) - The Latest on President Donald Trump campaigning in South Carolina (all times local):
10 p.m.
President Donald Trump revisited past battles Monday night as he rallied supporters behind South Carolina’s Republican governor ahead of a tense runoff election.
Trump urged Republicans to back Gov. Henry McMaster in Tuesday’s contest for the GOP nomination. The president also dug into favorite conflicts, including tough trade negotiations with U.S. allies, his ongoing fight with Democrats over immigration and his 2016 election victory.
Trump arrived an hour late after storms forced Air Force One to circle South Carolina’s capital city.
Trump pointed to his frequent nemesis, the news media, and warned that a loss for McMaster - who backed Trump in early 2016 - would be portrayed as a defeat for him.
(NOTE: In encouraging McMaster’s election, Trump told supporters, “So please, get your asses out tomorrow and vote.”)
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9 p.m.
President Donald Trump has taken on late-night television host Jimmy Fallon during a campaign stop for South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster’s bid for a first full term.
A crowd of more than a 1,000 booed when Trump mentioned Fallon Monday night in West Columbia.
Trump says Fallon was always waiting for him when he appeared on his show prior to winning the White House and treated him with respect.
Trump says: “I was just a guy. A guy with potential. … And I always got higher ratings that anyone else.”
On Sunday, Trump targeted the “Tonight Show” host, saying Fallon is “now whimpering” about the criticism he received for tousling then-candidate Trump’s hair during a September 2016 appearance.
Monday night, Trump said he told Fallon on social media to “just be a man.”
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8:50 p.m.
President Donald Trump returned the favor for one of his earliest supporters, urging South Carolinians to get out and vote for Republican Gov. Henry McMaster.
Speaking to a rally Monday night, Trump said if McMaster gets their support he won’t have to read negative news coverage. Trump predicted news reports will say he suffered a “great defeat” or a “humiliating” defeat if his candidate loses Tuesday’s runoff election.
Trump opened the rally with prayers for a congressional candidate who ousted a frequent Trump critic, GOP congressman Mark Sanford.
Trump said they need to send good thoughts to state Rep. Katie Arrington, who was injured in a car accident over the weekend. He also told those at the rally that Sanford “never liked me very much.”
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8:20 p.m.
President Donald Trump is praising South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster as a “fighter” at a campaign rally and imploring Republicans to support the governor in Tuesday’s runoff election.
Trump is noting that McMaster was among the first elected leaders to support his presidential campaign in 2016.
Called to the stage, McMaster noted that a storm delayed Air Force One’s arrival in South Carolina, but once the plane touched ground, as the governor put it, “the real force of nature” arrived.
Trump is joking that the media will accuse him of suffering a “major defeat” if McMaster loses his runoff against businessman John Warren.
McMaster received the most votes in a June 12 primary but fell short of the 50 percent needed to win the nomination outright.
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1:30 p.m.
President Donald Trump is going all-in for a South Carolina governor in a tense runoff election, betting that his last-minute appearance will help make the difference.
Trump was campaigning Monday for Republican Gov. Henry McMaster in West Columbia. McMaster had endorsed Trump’s presidential run.
The South Carolina campaign rally carries some political risk for the president if McMaster gets tripped up in Tuesday’s primary against businessman John Warren.
Vice President Mike Pence joined McMaster at a campaign event, and the president has used his massive Twitter following on McMaster’s behalf.
Trump tweeted Monday that he was traveling “to one of my favorite places, South Carolina, to fight for one of my original “fighters,” Governor Henry McMaster.”
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