Donald Trump ‘endorses’ Dan Goldman and Carolyn Maloney in sarcastic messages

Former President Donald Trump hit Dan Goldman, the man who helped impeach him, with a tongue in cheek “endorsement” Wednesday night on his knockoff Twitter platform Truth Social. Goldman is “honorable, fair, and highly intelligent,” said Trump, who recently had his home raided by the FBI. “He was not easy to beat,” Trump continued, referring to the U.S. Senate’s vote to acquit, “but winning against him made me realize just how very talented I am!” (Trump also gave Rep. Carolyn Maloney his “Complete and Total Endorsement” in the 12th Congressional District, while also praising her leading opponent Rep. Jerry Nadler.) The targeted Democrats took it as a badge of honor – Goldman’s campaign said he was “living rent-free in Trump’s head.” Maloney called it “laughable.” But Goldman’s opponents in the 10th District, Yuh-Line Niou, Jo Anne Simon and Mondaire Jones pounced, tweeting as if Trump was being sincere. Carlina Rivera and Elizabeth Holtzman didn’t take the bait. 

“Trump” was said 14 times during PIX11’s 10th District debate on Wednesday night, with most coming from Jones, who argued that Trump was accurate in saying Goldman would help Republicans against “Radical Left Democrats,” since he’s the most moderate of the leading candidates, and took donations from Trump donors. Goldman fired back: “Last week, he attacked me (on Truth Social). Now he’s pretending to endorse me to try to meddle in this election.” Goldman’s closing argument: “Donald Trump doesn’t want me in Congress, but The New York Times does.”

Dozens of other former elected officials, politicians, organizations and labor unions have made somewhat less ambiguous endorsements in the 10th District Democratic primary, which can all be seen here. Early voting has already begun, ahead of the Aug. 23 election. A recent poll showed a tight race for the open seat, spanning lower Manhattan and northwestern Brooklyn.