Winsome Sears, the black former Marine who Virginians elected lieutenant governor in a stunning Republican wave last year, told FOX Business Network this week that she will not support former President Donald Trump if he announces that he is going to run for president again.
Sears did not trash the former president as she acknowledge that he did score admirable accomplishments for the country, but she did knock his apparent lack of ability to read the room.
“When we look at the mission — and, as a Marine, we’re looking at the mission, and the voters have spoken, and they have said that they want a different leader,” Sears said. “And a true leader understands when they have become a liability. A true leader understands that it’s time to step off the stage. And the voters have given us that very clear message, because this is about America.”
“I could not support him. I just couldn’t, because we have seen, for example, in those states where he has endorsed the candidates, in fact, Republicans on the same ticket who he did not endorse over-performed, whereas his candidates totally underperformed by as much as 10 points,” she added. “We have a clear mission, and it is time to move on.”
WATCH:
VA Lt. Gov. Winsome Sears on Trump running in ‘24: “A true leader understands when they have become a liability. A true leader understands that it’s time to step off the stage and the voters have given us that very clear message…I could not support him.”
pic.twitter.com/HBarw1VUit— Ian Miles Cheong (@stillgray) November 11, 2022
TRANSCRIPT:
NEIL CAVUTO, FOX BUSINESS ANCHOR: But I want to go right now to the lieutenant governor of the beautiful state of Virginia, Winsome Sears.
Lieutenant Governor, very good to have you.
LT. GOV. WINSOME SEARS (R-VA): Thank you for having me.
And, by the way, happy birthday, Marines. Semper fi.
CAVUTO: Oh, good for you, and a very nice reminder. And we’re going to be celebrating that with my next guest.
But let me, Governor, if I can, get your take on what Charlie Gasparino and I were discussing, that the Republican Party seems to or some want to sort of move on from Donald Trump.
What do you think of that? Is that fair?
SEARS: Well, his administration, when it came to the economy, helped us, because black unemployment was the lowest it had ever been, historically.
And then, of course, when it came to education, he forgave, his administration, the loans that historically black colleges and universities had owed that they could never repay and, by the way, provided a permanent funding stream, and then safety, forced NATO to bring their fair share, only 2 percent of their GDP.
But when we look at the mission — and, as a Marine, we’re looking at the mission. And the voters have spoken, and they have said that they want a different leader. And a true leader understands when they have become a liability. A true leader understands that it’s time to step off the stage. And the voters have given us that very clear message, because this is about America.
CAVUTO: So, does that — does that apply, within the Republican Party, Lieutenant Governor, to Donald Trump, that it’s time to step off the stage?
SEARS: Yes, a house divided against itself cannot stand.
And, indeed, that’s where we are today. And, as I said before, America is the prize. Why do we want to win elections? It’s because we have got to learn to love to get — love each other, live together, govern together, and the voters are saying, enough is enough.
CAVUTO: So, if the party wants to move on, or some in the party, such as yourself, Lieutenant Governor — maybe Governor Youngkin feels the same way — but Donald Trump still makes a speech next week that he wants to run for president, what would you think about that?
SEARS: I could not support him. I just couldn’t, because we have seen, for example, in those states where he has endorsed the candidates, in fact, Republicans on the same ticket who he did not endorse overperformed, whereas his candidates totally underperformed by as much as 10 points.
We have a clear mission, and it is time to move on.
CAVUTO: Lieutenant Governor Winsome Sears, thank you. We know you have a very press scheduled, so we appreciate your taking the time.
Related: Winsome Sears Explains Why Democrats Feel ‘Hatred’ For Black Conservatives