Former President Donald Trump endorsed former hedge fund CEO Dave McCormick in Pennsylvania’s U.S. Senate race, despite criticizing him harshly two years prior. Trump officially backed McCormick during an event in Schnecksville, praising him for his intelligence, success, and dedication to the Republican Party. McCormick, running uncontested in the GOP primary, is expected to face Democratic Sen. Bob Casey in the general election, with the outcome potentially influencing which party controls the Senate.
During the 2022 race, Trump had criticized McCormick as being aligned with special interests and the Washington establishment, refusing to endorse him until he acknowledged the 2020 election was stolen. McCormick, however, has since endorsed Trump and thanked him for the recent endorsement, though he did not attend the rally in Schnecksville. As one of several self-funding Republican Senate candidates this year, McCormick may not require as much fundraising support from Trump as other candidates would, given his financial resources.
The Pennsylvania Senate race is expected to be closely contested and expensive, with Casey seeking a fourth term and facing possibly his toughest challenge yet. Trump used the rallying opportunity to address the conflict between Israel and Iran, criticizing President Biden’s response and expressing support for Israel. The crowd responded by chanting “genocide Joe,” highlighting the complexities of foreign policy and political divisions within the U.S. regarding international conflicts.