President Donald Trump launched a scathing attack on former Georgia Lieutenant Governor Geoff Duncan in the early morning hours of Friday, August 8, posting on Truth Social just after 1 a.m. Eastern time to denounce Duncan’s recent switch from the Republican Party to the Democratic Party.
Trump called Duncan a “total loser” and declared “Good riddance Geoff. You don’t even have a chance!!!” The president indicated that Duncan was never able to get anything done and complained constantly during his tenure. Trump suggested that the Republican Party no longer wanted Duncan as a member, prompting his decision to become a Democrat.
Duncan, who served as Georgia’s lieutenant governor from 2019 to 2023, announced his party switch on Tuesday, August 6, in an op-ed published in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. The former Republican official stated that his decision was centered around his daily struggle to love his neighbor while remaining in the Republican Party. Duncan explained that recent GOP decisions to cut SNAP benefits and slash Medicaid funding conflicted with his Christian faith.
The party switch came after Duncan was expelled from the Georgia Republican Party in January following his endorsement of former President Joe Biden during the 2024 election campaign. When Biden withdrew from the race, Duncan subsequently endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris. Georgia GOP Chair Josh McKoon had previously instructed Duncan to stop using his Republican credentials in public and media appearances following his expulsion.
Duncan’s relationship with Trump deteriorated significantly following the 2020 presidential election. Despite initially voting for Trump in 2020, Duncan became a vocal critic after Trump attempted to pressure Georgia officials to overturn the election results. Duncan, along with Governor Brian Kemp and Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, refused to support Trump’s claims of widespread voter fraud in Georgia.
The former lieutenant governor testified before the Fulton County grand jury that later indicted Trump and others for their attempts to overturn the 2020 election results in Georgia. Duncan characterized Trump’s efforts to steal the 2020 election as disqualifying him from ever returning to the Oval Office.
Duncan appeared as a speaker at the Democratic National Convention on August 21, 2024, where he urged fellow Republicans and independents to abandon Trump. During his remarks, Duncan stated that as a lifelong conservative Republican, he no longer recognized his own party. He argued that Trump only cares about revenge and retribution rather than America’s working families.
In his convention speech, Duncan directly addressed Republicans watching at home, telling them that voting for Harris would make them patriots rather than Democrats. He described the current Republican Party as acting more like a cult worshiping what he termed a felonious thug, rather than maintaining its traditional civil and conservative values.
Trump’s Friday morning attack was not his first criticism of Duncan. On August 3, 2024, Trump had called for Duncan’s removal from the Georgia GOP, describing him as a lightweight who went to work for CNN at a low salary. Trump accused Duncan of serving solely to attack him and suggested that Governor Kemp was among the few who respected Duncan.
In his party switch announcement, Duncan criticized Republican immigration policies as failing to demonstrate love for neighbors. He specifically opposed military-style raids on undocumented but law-abiding families, describing such actions as heartless and pointless efforts designed primarily to create social media content.
Duncan, who currently works as a CNN contributor, indicated he would consider running for office again as a Democrat. He mentioned receiving encouragement from Democrats, independents, and some moderate Republicans who are dissatisfied with the current direction of both the party and the country. Speculation has emerged about a potential gubernatorial run in 2026, when Governor Kemp will be term-limited.
The former lieutenant governor previously endorsed Biden in May 2024, stating that Trump had disqualified himself through his conduct and character. Duncan argued that unlike Trump, he had belonged to the GOP his entire life but chose to vote for what he considered a decent person with whom he disagreed on policy over a criminal defendant without a moral compass.
Duncan ultimately chose not to seek reelection in 2022, while both Kemp and Raffensperger won reelection overwhelmingly despite Trump’s continued criticism. Duncan has maintained that Trump completely controls the GOP, comparing the situation to a rogue cult leader taking over a church and brainwashing its members.
