President Trump called on Democratic Virginia attorney general nominee Jay Jones to drop out after leaked 2022 text messages showed Jones musing about hypothetically shooting then–House Speaker Todd Gilbert [thehill.com#1][cbsnews.com#1]. The messages recently resurfaced and drew criticism, with National Review saying it exposed them [nypost.com#1][nationalreview.com#1]. Some local Democrats, including Virginia Beach Democrats, publicly backed Jones, while gubernatorial candidate Abigail Spanberger has not disavowed him [nypost.com#2][nypost.com#1].
Highlights:
- Leaked messages: In 2022 texts, Jay Jones mused about hypothetically shooting then–Speaker Todd Gilbert [cbsnews.com#1].
- Trump’s demand: President Trump urged Jones to withdraw from the Virginia attorney general race [thehill.com#1].
- Local support: Virginia Beach Democrats publicly backed Jones and urged forgiveness in a statement [nypost.com#2].
- Spanberger stance: Gubernatorial nominee Abigail Spanberger has not disavowed Jones following the texts’ resurfacing [nypost.com#1][nypost.com#2].
- Outlet’s role: National Review reported the messages and said Jones criticized its reporting [nationalreview.com#1]; CBS described subsequent bipartisan backlash [cbsnews.com#1].
We say, let those without sin cast the first stone. – Virginia Beach Democrats
Perspectives:
- President Trump: Urged Jay Jones to drop out of the AG race and highlighted incumbent Jason Miyares. (The Hill)
- Virginia Beach Democrats: Backed Jones and framed the matter as a call for grace and forgiveness. (New York Post)
- National Review: Asserted it exposed Jones’s violent messages and criticized his response as misdirection. (National Review)
Sources:
- Trump savages Virginia’s ‘weak’ Dem gubernatorial nominee for not disavowing ‘lunatic’ AG candidate Jay Jones over vile texts – nypost.com
- Trump calls on Democratic attorney general nominee Jay Jones to drop out of race – thehill.com
- The Jay Jones Misdirection – nationalreview.com
- Virginia AG candidate faces backlash over violent, inflammatory text messages – cbsnews.com
