Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp reacts to Donald Trump’s White House win

ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) - Despite former quarrels, Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp congratulated Donald Trump on Wednesday for his victory in the 2024 election.

Georgia, one of seven noted swing states, went red for Trump in the 2024 election after turning blue in 2020.

“Congratulations to President-Elect Donald Trump,” Kemp wrote on X, formerly Twitter. “We look forward to working together to put hardworking Americans first and get our country back on track.”

Kemp and Trump weren’t always friendly with each other. Before an August rally in Atlanta, Trump attacked Kemp on Truth Social, his social media platform.

In the post, Trump said the “crime rate in Georgia is terrible (and) his crime rate in Atlanta is the worst and his economy is terrible,” adding, “Your governor ought to get off his ass and do something about it.” He also said he didn’t want Kemp’s, or his wife’s, political endorsement.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Donald Trump calls Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp ‘bad guy’ on social media

In a fiery response, Kemp posted on X: “My focus is on winning this November and saving our country from Kamala Harris and the Democrats - not engaging in petty personal insults, attacking fellow Republicans, or dwelling on the past. You should do the same, Mr. President, and leave my family out of it.”

Days later, Trump said during a news conference that he’d like to fix his relationship with Kemp. Later in August, the two were seen touring Hurricane Helene damage in Augusta together, shaking hands on camera. Kemp also advocated for Trump on a Fox News segment, and Trump publicly thanked him on X.

Other noted Georgia Republicans also took to social media after Trump’s victory. Georgia Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, who won her own reelection bid on Tuesday, said she was excited about the former president’s win.

“America will no longer tolerate this communist regime, ripping our border wide open, turning our kids trans, and promoting abortion as reproductive rights,” she wrote. “The American people are fed up with a weaponized government.

This is a developing story. Check back with Atlanta News First as we learn more.