President Trump called on the embattled Democratic candidate in Virginia's attorney general election, Jay Jones, to drop out after the Democrat was caught fantasizing about the murder of a Republican rival and his family.
In disturbing text messages, Jones said he would shoot ex-House Speaker Todd Gilbert (R) "every time" if given a choice between killing him or dictators like Hitler and Pol Pot.
In a Truth Social post, Trump endorsed Jones' opponent, Republican incumbent Jason Miyares, and called on Jones to end his campaign "immediately."
“It has just come out that the Radical Left Lunatic, Jay Jones, who is running against Jason Miyares, the GREAT Attorney General in Virginia, made SICK and DEMENTED jokes, if they were jokes at all, which were not funny, and that he wrote down and sent around to people, concerning the murdering of a Republican Legislator, his wife, and their children,” Trump posted on Sunday.
Trump also slammed the tepid response from Abigail Spanberger, the Democrats' candidate for governor of Virginia, who criticized Jones without calling for him to drop out.
“Abigail Spanberger, who is running for Governor, is weak and ineffective, and refuses to acknowledge what this Lunatic has done. Even Democrats are saying it is ‘RESIGNATION FROM CAMPAIGN’ TERRITORY,” Trump continued.
Jones, a former member of the Virginia House of Delegates, shared his twisted thoughts with Republican colleague Carrie Coyner, who expressed shock at the horrific messages.
“Three people, two bullets,” Jones wrote in the messages, which were first reported by National Review.
“Gilbert, hitler, and pol pot. Gilbert gets two bullets to the head,” Jones wrote, adding, “Spoiler: put Gilbert in the crew with the two worst people you know and he receives both bullets every time.”
Additionally, Jones told Coyner that people need to "feel pain" to change their minds on policy, with Jones wishing death on Gilbert's family of "little fascists."
“I mean do I think Todd and Jennifer are evil? And that they’re breeding little fascists? Yes,” he wrote, referring to Gilbert’s wife and two children.
Initially, Jones reacted to getting caught by accusing his opponent, Miyares, of a "smear" campaign.
“Let’s be clear about what is happening in the Attorney General race right now: Jason Miyares is dropping smears through Trump-controlled media organizations to assault my character and rescue his desperate campaign,” he added. “This is a strategy that ensures Jason Miyares will continue to be accountable to Donald Trump, not the people of Virginia.”
While Jones has since apologized, Republicans including Trump, Vice President J.D. Vance and Virginia governor Glenn Youngkin have all urged Jones to step aside, calling his comments disqualifying.
Democrats have largely responded by closing ranks, with Virginia House Speaker Don Scott, a Democrat, calling the texts a distraction.
The Virginia Beach Democratic Committee called Jones' texts a "mistake" and invoked Christ, adding, "We say, let those without sin cast the first stone.”
