December 27, 2024
A 2017 Facebook post shows Trump-endorsed candidate Kari Lake sharing anti-Trump meme calling his January 2017 inauguration a "day of mourning and protest."

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An Arizona GOP gubernatorial candidate backed by Donald Trump shared a post on Facebook stating that Trump was “Not My President” just days before the former president’s inauguration in 2017.

The anti-Trump post from Kari Lake’s account read, “Will you be protesting the inauguration? If so, which of these suggestions will you adopt? Will you boycott TV coverage? Wear black? Donate money the ACLU, NAACP or Planned Parenthood? Use the hashtag #NotMyPresident? Will you unfollow Donald Trump?”

After Fox News Digital requested a statement from the Kari Lake for Governor campaign, the post disappeared from her page.

Lake is currently in a heated primary for the GOP nomination, which pits Trump against his former vice president, Mike Pence who endorsed Lake’s top primary opponent, Karrin Taylor Robson. 

PENCE ENDORSES RIVAL TO TRUMP-BACKED CANDIDATE IN ARIZONA GOP GUBERNATORIAL PRIMARY

Former President Donald Trump endorsed GOP primary candidate Kari Lake for the Arizona Governor's race.

Former President Donald Trump endorsed GOP primary candidate Kari Lake for the Arizona Governor’s race. (Robyn Beck/AFP via Getty Images)

The Facebook post was accompanied by a meme that appears to have been sent to Lake by one of her Facebook followers. The meme referred to Trump’s Inauguration Day as a “National Day of Mourning and Protest.”

Lake has recently expressed that she believes the 2020 presidential election was “stolen” from the former president.

ARIZONA PRIMARY SHOWDOWN: DUCEY BACKS RIVAL TO TRUMP ENDORSED CANDIDATE

Kari Lake, who has Trump's endorsement in the Arizona GOP gubernatorial primary, posted an apparently anti-Trump image on Facebook during the 2017 inauguration

Kari Lake, who has Trump’s endorsement in the Arizona GOP gubernatorial primary, posted an apparently anti-Trump image on Facebook during the 2017 inauguration (The Kari Lake/Facebook screenshot)

On Monday, former Vice President Mike Pence announced his endorsement for Lake’s primary rival, saying, “as Arizona Democrats pursue the reckless Biden-Harris agenda, Karrin Taylor Robson is the only candidate for governor that will keep Arizona’s border secure and streets safe, empower parents and create great schools, and promote conservative values.”

Current Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey, R-Ariz., who faces a term limit this election, also recently endorsed Robson for the seat.

Democrats have also gotten involved in the Republican primary. Last week, the Arizona Democrat Party sent out an email thanking Robson for her contributions to the party and helping Democrats get elected over the years. Robson’s campaign told Fox News Digital that they viewed the Democratic involvement as an apparent attempt to persuade voters to vote for Lake, who the Robson campaign believes would be the weaker candidate in the general election. 

Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey endorses Karrin Taylor Robson in the state's GOP gubernatorial primary.

Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey endorses Karrin Taylor Robson in the state’s GOP gubernatorial primary. (Karrin Taylor Robson campaign )

This Friday, Trump and Pence are scheduled to speak at competing events in Arizona to support their endorsed candidates.

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Arizona Secretary of State Katie Hobbs is among the Democratic candidates seeking to advance to November’s midterm election.

Fox News’ Paul Steinhauser contributed to this report.