Trump Joins VA Republicans Urging Jay Jones To Drop Out Of AG Race

President Donald Trump this weekend joined Virginia and national Republicans in demanding Democrat Jerrauld “Jay” Jones drop out of the attorney general's race in the Commonwealth after controversial texts about Hitler and political opponents that Jones sent surfaced.

Trump called Jones a “Radical Left Lunatic” who should drop out “IMMEDIATELY” on social media.

Jones faces incumbent Jason Miyares, a Republican on Nov. 4 in the race for Virginia attorney general.

In 2022, Jones sent texts to Republican House of Delegates candidate Carrie Coyner that said: Three people, two bullets Gilbert, hitler, and pol pot Gilbert gets two bullets to the head Spoiler: put Gilbert in the crew with the two worst people you know and he receives both bullets every time."

WTOP reported that Coyner replied: “Please stop. … It really bothers me when you talk about hurting people or wishing death on them.”

In a statement, Jones said he takes full responsibility for his actions and apologized to Gilbert and his family.

In an interview with Richmond’s 8News WRIC Jones said he had contacted Gilbert to apologize to him, his wife, Jennifer, and their children.

Jones released a statement apologizing for his comments:

“I take full responsibility for my actions, and I want to issue my deepest apology to Speaker Gilbert and his family. Reading back those words made me sick to my stomach. I am embarrassed, ashamed and sorry.

"I have reached out to Speaker Gilbert to apologize directly to him, his wife Jennifer and their children. I cannot take back what I said; I can only take full accountability and offer my sincere apology.

"Virginians deserve honest leaders who admit when they are wrong and own up to their mistakes. This was a grave mistake and I will work every day to prove to the people of Virginia that I will fight for them as Attorney General.”

The texts were first reported Friday by National Review.

The Post reported Jones also said he would urinate on the future graves of his political opponents and evoked Gilbert’s wife and children in the texts, saying the couple was evil and that they were “breeding little fascists.”

Democratic gubernatorial candidate Abigail Spanberger told FOX DC she "spoke frankly with Jay about my disgust with what he had said and texted," and said Jones needed to "take responsibility for his words."