2026-07-24 · contested story

Johnson’s ‘Trump Tailgate’ spurs backlash from Trump team; he calls James endors...

Republican gubernatorial candidate Perry Johnson is hosting a 'Trump Tailgate' event on July 27 in Oakland County, Michigan, despite not being endorsed by President Donald Trump. Johnson ran against Trump in the 2024 presidential election but has expressed support for him. Trump's campaign team publicly rebuked Johnson on X (formerly Twitter), calling him a 'NEVER TRUMPER who ran against @realDonaldTrump in the 2024 election' and questioning his use of Trump's name for the event when Trump has endorsed Johnson's primary opponent, U.S. Rep. John James. Left-leaning and center outlets frame this as evidence of internal GOP friction and Trump's selective endorsement power, emphasizing the embarrassment of being called out by Team Trump. The Michigan Advance (center) focuses on the factual back-and-forth between Johnson's campaign and Trump's team, noting Johnson's response that he 'loves President Trump' and his claim that Trump received 'bad advice' on the James endorsement. Right-leaning outlets like the New York Post do not cover this specific Michigan gubernatorial story, instead focusing on broader Trump-related narratives. The story reveals tensions within Republican primaries over Trump's endorsement and highlights how candidates navigate support for Trump while facing his official backing of their opponents.

How each side frames it

left
"The spirit of the Oakland County Republican Party bylaws is straightforward: party leadership should remain neutral in contested primaries unless the Executive Committee formally authorizes an endorsement."
"Perry Johnson is a NEVER TRUMPER who ran against @realDonaldTrump in the 2024 election"
"Johnson has repeatedly referenced the Trump endorsement directly in his criticisms of James on social media — following two debates between Johnson, James and former Attorney General Mike Cox, who has since dropped out of the race, he posted about 'Trump endorsed liberal John James.'"
"I think President Trump's been a very good president. I never would deny that, but he has a group of advisers that often don't give him the best possible advice"
center
"Republican gubernatorial candidate Perry Johnson is hosting a 'Trump Tailgate' on July 27 — but he's not endorsed by President Donald Trump, and his branding of the event has him in hot water with the president's campaign team."
"Johnson responded directly to the post, saying, 'I love President Trump and proudly support him. I have said time and time again I think he is our greatest President,' before posting an hour later a clip of himself speaking in support of Trump at the 2024 Republican National Convention."
"Team Trump's post pretty much sums it up... Perry Johnson is a never-Trumper who spent $30 million running against President Trump. President Trump gave his complete and total endorsement to John James. Perry Johnson should stop gaslighting voters."
"Trump's Monday rally is expected to be in Oakland County — where the county Republican Party's chair and vice chair, Vance Patrick and Terri Nallamothu, endorsed Johnson in a move that drew the ire of state party leadership."
right
"Actor Michael Rapaport went off on California Gov. Gavin Newsom in a video on Tuesday, telling the Democrat 'there's no more mistakes for you, you're done!'"
"And now that our country's made a gigantic pivotal change, we're going to get back to doing what we do, and that is being the best country in the world"
"Perry Johnson is a political fan of mine... It was a tremendous success, it was great"
"Trump-backed statewide candidates like John James, Tudor Dixon, Matt DePerno, and Kristina Karamo all came up short when it mattered most"

What each side left out

The left left out — covered by the Yahoo News
The right left out — covered by the Yahoo News
The center left out

What's actually true?

[verified] Perry Johnson ran against Donald Trump in the 2024 presidential election
[verified] Donald Trump endorsed U.S. Rep. John James for Michigan governor
[verified] Perry Johnson donated to the Trump campaign in 2020
[verified] Trump referenced Undertaker at a rally in Arizona using his entrance music
[verified] Oakland County Republican Party chair and vice chair endorsed Perry Johnson
[verified] Michigan GOP Chairman Jim Runestad criticized Oakland County party leaders for invoking their offices in the Johnson endorsement
[verified] Perry Johnson spoke in support of Trump at the 2024 Republican National Convention
[verified] Trump-endorsed candidates in Georgia and Iowa lost their respective primaries

The narrative clash

Johnson's relationship with Trump
Left: Perry Johnson is a NEVER TRUMPER who ran against @realDonaldTrump in the 2024 election
Right: I love President Trump and proudly support him. I have said time and time again I think he is our greatest President
Nature of endorsement process
Left: Perry Johnson should stop gaslighting voters
Right: I think President Trump's been a very good president. I never would deny that, but he has a group of advisers that often don't give him the best possible advice

11 sources analyzed

Mediaite talkingpointsmemo.com Yahoo! Search investing.com dailymail.com huffingtonpost.co.uk fox8.com awfulannouncing.com t-online.de NY Post Fox News

Perspectivity reads the coverage — not just who published it.

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