Representative Bob Good (R-VA) faced an awkward and embarrassing situation as he was expelled from a pro-Donald Trump event in Virginia. The incident, captured on social media footage, depicted Good engaging in conversation with Karen Angulo, a store owner and former local GOP chair, who then instructed him to leave the event. Virginia State Senator John McGuire (R), who is challenging Good for his congressional seat, was also present at the event.
The confrontation stemmed from Good’s apparent loss of support among Trump loyalists due to his earlier endorsement of Florida Governor Ron DeSantis while DeSantis was running for president. Good had shifted his endorsement to Trump after DeSantis suspended his campaign. The video of the incident at the Trump store opening captured Angulo repeatedly urging Good to depart, even reading from an email that invited all Republicans supporting Trump to attend the event.
“We invited our State Senator John McGuire as a special guest because John has been a supporter of President Trump and never wavered, unlike Bob Good,” Angulo stated in a released statement about the incident.
Despite the persistent requests for him to leave, Good continued to engage, leading to what Angulo described as an “embarrassing” situation. She further elaborated in her statement, revealing that after Good eventually left the store, he and his paid campaign staff remained outside for over four hours, attempting to prevent people from entering the establishment.
The incident highlights the tension within the GOP and the shifting allegiances among its members, particularly concerning their alignment with Donald Trump. Good’s previous endorsement of DeSantis and subsequent endorsement of Trump appeared to have alienated him from some staunch Trump supporters in attendance at the event.
In January, Good explained his endorsement of DeSantis by expressing his desire for a president who could serve two consecutive terms. He clarified that while he appreciated Trump’s actions during his term, he believed in the potential for eight years of governance, leading to his initial support for DeSantis.
The expulsion from the pro-Trump event adds a layer of complexity to Good’s re-election campaign, with the confrontation at the store opening serving as a public manifestation of the internal divisions within the Republican party over allegiances to Trump and differing visions for the party’s future.
