Former President Donald Trump and Gov. Brian Kemp (R-GA) will make their first joint appearance in four years at a briefing on Hurricane Helene’s destruction.
Trump severed ties with Kemp after the swing-state governor refused to assist him in his efforts to overturn the 2020 election results in Georgia.
In August, Trump criticized Kemp’s wife after she said she would write her husband’s name in for president. Trump called Kemp a “bad guy,” “a very average governor,” and “little Brian” at least twice during a campaign event.
But just two weeks after those remarks, Trump’s tune shifted — likely because Kemp said on Fox News that “we need to send Donald Trump back to the White House.”
Throughout this election cycle, Kemp has said he would support whoever the Republican presidential nominee was and that he would work to assist Republicans up and down the ballot to get elected.
During an interview with Fox News, Kemp emphasized that Georgia is crucial in Trump’s path to 270 electoral votes.
Trump later praised Kemp for his support in a post on Truth Social.
“I look forward to working with you, your team, and all of my friends in Georgia to help MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!” Trump said.
Both Trump and Kemp were invited by Columbia County officials to attend the briefing on the hurricane’s damage. It is not a campaign appearance.
Earlier this week, Trump visited Valdosta, Georgia, where he claimed that Kemp was not able to get on the phone with President Joe Biden and that the federal government was not assisting the state with recovery efforts.
“They are not being responsive, the federal government is not being responsive,” Trump said. “They are having a hard time getting the president on the phone.”
However, Kemp said he talked to Biden on the phone on Sunday.
“He just said, ‘Hey, what do you need?’” Kemp told reporters. “And I told him, you know, we got what we need. We will work through the federal process. He offered that if there’s other things we need, just to call him directly.”
On Sept. 26, Biden ordered federal assistance and funding for Georgia.
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The president visited Georgia on Thursday, but he did not meet with Kemp.
Hurricane Helene left more than 200 people dead, including at least 33 in Georgia.