Trump distances from Lin Wood, endorses opponent for South Carolina GOP chairman

Former President Donald Trump announced his endorsement of Drew McKissick in the race for South Carolina GOP chairman, who is being contested by former attorney L. Lin Wood. Trump made his endorsement of the incumbent a day after Wood announced last Sunday his intention to run for the seat, Forbes reports.

"My decision to run for the office was heavily influenced by my well known desire to reform local and state political parties and return power to the people... Here, I want to return power and control of the South Carolina Republican Party to the members of the party," an email from Wood to The Post and Courier reads.

L. Lin Wood is notorious for promoting conspiracy theories surrounding the results of the 2020 US election, whose repeated calls for Georgians to boycott the state's senate runoff elections in January were widely propagated by the Lincoln Project and other left-wing organizations.

A statement released by Trump defending his decision to support McKissick over Wood was released on March 30.

"Drew McKissick has done an outstanding job as South Carolina GOP Chairman, electing more Republicans in 2020 than in over 140 years. Drew fought all the way to the Supreme Court to defend our voting laws—and WON. He will continue to grow the party and help Conservatives get elected in the Great State of South Carolina. Drew has my Complete and Total Endorsement for re-election!" the statement reads.

Though Trump has previously praised Wood for a “good Job” with his 2020 election lawsuits, Trump’s team has spoken out against Wood in the past. Jenna Ellis spoke out against Wood in early January regarding a tweets from Wood suggesting that Mike Pence should be arrested for treason and shot by firing squad, according to Newsweek.