The White House is scrambling to prop up President Donald Trump's image as a figure of influence after a public gaffe spurred ripples of ridicule, according to a new report.
The gaffe was Sen. Darline Nordone's, the sister of the late Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-NC), who Trump has endorsed to replace her brother despite some setbacks that include her openness about her own lack of qualifications, CNN reported Friday.
“The entire world is laughing at South Carolina right now and laughing at Darline Graham Nordone,” former state Rep. Adam Morgan told CNN.
Nordone — dubbed "Queen Darline" by her critics — has faced mounting criticism for admitting this week she was “not that informed about national security.”
Morgan described it as a “serious gut check” for Trump, according to CNN.
Now Trump is leaping to her defense — holding a rally with Graham on Friday — and his White House is lobbing insults at anyone who questions the power of his endorsement.
“President Trump’s endorsement is the most powerful endorsement in the history of American politics,” White House spokeswoman Allison Schuster told CNN. “Anyone claiming otherwise is a complete and utter fool.”
But Trump's endorsement this election cycle has failed to push the needle for several high-profile candidates, among them Conspiracy theorist and MyPillow founder Mike Lindell and far-right representative Andy Ogles.
And his efforts to consolidate support behind Nordone after the Aug. 11 primary, which resulted in a runoff, have been "mixed," CNN reported.
Nordone continues to face criticism and even Trump's loyal supporters are venting their frustration to CNN.
“While I am a Trump support[er] and Lexington and SC is Trump Country,” Mark Weber, the chairman of the Lexington County GOP said in a text to CNN, “SC voters don’t want anyone to twist our arms or tell us how to vote.”
