Trump throttles Idaho's GOP governor by backing his power-usurping lieutenant in primary challenge

On Tuesday, former President Donald Trump endorsed Idaho Lieutenant Gov. Janice McGeachin as a primary challenger to incumbent Gov. Brad Little.

In a statement released through his spokesperson, Trump explained why McGeachin deserves his supporters' votes.

"She is brave and not afraid to stand up for the issues that matter most to the people of Idaho, a beautiful State that I won by 30.8%," wrote Trump in his statement. "Janice is great on Election Integrity, will always fight for strong Borders, our cherished Second Amendment, American Manufacturing, School Choice, and our wonderful and hardworking FARMERS. I am giving Janice McGeachin my Complete and Total Endorsement to be the next Governor of Idaho."

McGeachin has repeatedly attracted national attention because of how she has issued orders contradicting the wishes of Little while he has been outside of the state — a curious power allowed to her by the Idaho Constitution.

In one instance, McGeachin tried to deploy the Idaho National Guard to the Southern border to guard against migrants, which Little promptly rescinded. In another instance, she issued an order banning COVID-19 testing at public schools in the state, which Little also reversed upon returning from an out-of-state trip.

She has also proposed spending money allocated to Idaho under the CARES Act for walk-in "disinfectant cubes" to fight COVID-19, manufactured by a Vegas-based company owned by a pro-Trump businessman.