EVANS, Georgia — After having a rocky relationship over the last couple of years, former President Donald Trump and Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp are expected to be together in Evans, Georgia on Friday to get briefed on the devastation from Hurricane Helene.
Evans is a community in Columbia County, about a 25 to 30-minute drive from Augusta, near the South Carolina border. It is one of the hardest-hit areas in Georgia from Helene -- a deadly hurricane that wreaked havoc across the Southeast and has killed at least 33 people across the state as well as causing already more than $400 million in economic damages.
According to a release by the Trump campaign, the Republican presidential nominee and Republican governor will deliver remarks together at Columbia Performing Arts Center, 1000 Market St, in Evans at 3:45 p.m.
Kemp's Office confirmed that not only will the governor be in Evans, he will also be at Lincoln County Emergency Management Agency at 1056 Global Drive in Lincolnton at 4:30 p.m. He will be meeting with local leadership and emergency management officials. He will also be providing brief remarks on the state's response to Helene.
Both Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris, presidential candidates in the 2024 election, have made trips to the state to assess the aftermath of Helene in the area. Trump was in Valdosta earlier this week, and Harris was in Augusta on Wednesday to get briefed. President Biden has also been traveling to see the aftermath of the hurricane in the Southeast.
Kemp has been traveling to different parts of the state following the hurricane, as well. However, what makes this visit to Evans more of a standout from a political perspective is that both Trump and Kemp are expected to be seen together. It's noteworthy because of a prior rift in their relationship since the 2020 election.
This tension was especially seen during an August rally when Trump blasted Kemp by calling him "disloyal" and said that the governor was only in his current position due to his own endorsement while he was president.
"He is the most disloyal guy I think I've ever seen," Trump said of Kemp. "But think of the wife ... and now she said two weeks ago that I will not endorse him because he has not earned my endorsement ... but I don't want her endorsement, I don't want his endorsement. I just want them to do their job for Georgia, and you know what, he's the governor, he oughta support his Republican party because if he's not, if he doesn't have his Republican party, I can tell you where he came from, and it wasn't good."
Kemp clapped back on the comments made by Trump, saying his focus was on winning the presidential election come November and "not engaging in petty personal insults, attacking fellow Republicans, or dwelling on the past."
The Georgia governor wrapped it up simply: "You should do the same, Mr. President, and leave my family out of it."
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However, nearly three weeks after Trump was criticized for his comments at his rally, he changed his tune. Kemp made an appearance on Fox News with host Sean Hannity and took the time to say that Trump "must be reelected" in the upcoming presidential election.
Following the message from Kemp, Trump took to social media to pledge his support for Kemp, thank him and express that he is looking forward to working with him in hopes of winning the 2024 election against Democratic nominee Kamala Harris.
Since then, it has seemed like the two may be on the same page. However, it must also be noted that both presidential candidates have put aside personal feelings and politics while they take in the devastation from Helene. For example, Democrat Kamala Harris thanked Kemp for his leadership during her visit to Augusta on Wednesday.
It is unknown what Trump and Kemp will say during their speech on Friday, but from a political perspective, the move showcases a sign of unity for the Republican party as both candidates try to win swing state Georgia ahead of the November election.
