Trump endorsed Karrin Taylor Robson for governor. His base freaked out

President-elect Donald Trump has already made a prospective endorsement in the 2026 race for governor of Arizona, and the state’s extremist right-wing figures are livid.

Speaking at Turning Point USA’s annual AmericaFest convention Sunday in Phoenix, Trump signaled his support for Karrin Taylor Robson. A conventional Republican, Robson lost the gubernatorial primary in 2022 to Kari Lake, who went on to lose to now-Gov. Katie Hobbs.

With Lake now tabbed to head up Voice of America in the next Trump administration – though that appointment is not as clear-cut as Lake and Trump have suggested – the incoming president threw his support behind Lake’s 2022 primary challenger.

“If you do (run for governor),” Trump told Robson from the stage, “you’re going to have my support.”

As the former and future president’s statement suggests, Robson has not officially jumped into the race. But she responded shortly afterward with a grateful post on X.

President @realDonaldTrump is a president for all Americans.

I am beyond honored to have his support. Thank you Mr. President for everything you do for our country and for the great State of Arizona. pic.twitter.com/PTFcIoVXAj

— Karrin Taylor Robson (@KTaylorRobson) December 22, 2024

The endorsement ignited fury among the MAGA crowd, who painted Robson as a moderate Republican. While up in arms about the decision, few were able to overcome their obsequious fealty to Trump, the party’s god-king.

Instead, the fault for the endorsement was laid at the feed of some unnamed staffers who surely were pouring poison into Trump’s ear. That raises an interesting theoretical question: Who decides what is MAGA enough? Is it Trump, the movement’s leader? Or is it whatever Trump’s extremist fans believe he should want?

Here are some of the biggest meltdowns from Arizona MAGA figures over Trump’s endorsement.

State Sen. Jake Hoffman

.@realDonaldTrump should fire whichever consultant or staffer told him to endorse the UniParty McCain network candidate for AZ Governor

She lost the 2022 primary for a reason.

Arizona doesn’t want her open borders, pro-amnesty liberal policies.

KTR is the Swamp.

— Jake Hoffman (@JakeHoffmanAZ) December 22, 2024

Unable to criticize the infallible supreme leader of the GOP, Hoffman, a Queen Creek Republican and leader of the far-right Freedom Caucus, blamed a Trump “consultant or staffer” for the endorsement.

Hoffman was one of the 11 fake electors who tried to overturn the results of the 2020 election for Trump.

State Rep. Jacqueline Parker

Trump’s AZ endorsements have messed up our state so many times 😫. He needs to just focus on Congress & stay out of our statewide races. 🤦🏻‍♀️ https://t.co/8MfYKNVzvs

— Rep. Jacqueline Parker (@electjacqparker) December 22, 2024

Parker’s tone was more overtly critical of Trump, saying he needed to “stay out of our statewide races.”

Laura Loomer

Hey Karrin @KTaylorRobson

Why are you pretending to be a Trump supporter, and who on @TeamTrump told President Trump to endorse Trump hater Karrin Taylor Robson for Governor of Arizona?

Karrin, you literally held fundraisers for Trump hater Chris Christie’s @ChrisChristie… https://t.co/j1VOQ7QEfk pic.twitter.com/wjfHr2EhL7

— Laura Loomer (@LauraLoomer) December 22, 2024

Loomer is an Arizona native, outspoken media personality and self-described white nationalist. She gained attention during the presidential election when she frequently was spotted with Trump.

She also posted on X that Robson said Trump was a drag on the Republican Party days after the 2022 midterm elections.

WATCH:

SHOCK VIDEO

On November 27, 2022, just days after President Trump announced his re-election campaign at Mar a Lago, Karrin Taylor Robson @KTaylorRobson said President Trump is a “drag on the Republican Party”.

She said Trump is like clothing in that “he used to be a… https://t.co/j1VOQ7QEfk pic.twitter.com/fOvtVpmtc1

— Laura Loomer (@LauraLoomer) December 23, 2024

While Trump’s pre-endorsement caused outrage among the most extreme right-wing political figures, several far-from-moderate Republican lawmakers applauded it, including House Speaker Pro Tempore Travis Grantham of Gilbert and state Rep. Teresa Martinez of Casa Grande.

Outstanding! Let’s get started early and get behind the candidate that can win! Good luck and let’s fire Hobbs together! https://t.co/Gj1Z9vjJMz

— Travis Grantham (@TravisGrantham) December 22, 2024

Congratulations @KTaylorRobson on this endorsement!!!! https://t.co/4HHVu2edgF

— Teresa Martinez (@TMartinez4AZ) December 22, 2024

The responses to those showings of support were less than, uh, supportive.

“Bad idea,” one X user wrote to Grantham.

“No. Rejected,” wrote another.

“She will not get my vote. Clearly the Republican establishment wants this woman elected governor,” wrote a third. “I hope we get an unquestionable MAGA candidate.”

If the candidate Trump wants is not a MAGA candidate, then who is?