President Donald Trump on Friday endorsed South Carolina Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette over Rep. Nancy Mace in the state's GOP gubernatorial primary.

Trump in a Truth Social Post called Evette an “America First Patriot” who “never wavered” in supporting him, and complimented her choice of a running mate in Gov. Henry McMaster's son, Henry McMaster Jr., saying he was "brilliant" and "competent."

He also pointed out that Evette was the only South Carolina gubernatorial candidate to endorse him as soon as he launched his 2024 presidential campaign.

Mace and Trump had a political falling out when she pushed for more transparency in the Justice Department's release of the Epstein files.

She said in an X post following Trump's post that she understood her decision was at the risk of losing his key endorsement. However, she still has "enormous respect" for him.

Mace also who also repeated in the post that she is a "survivor" of sexual assault, said she "had to get justice" for the women who made similar accusations against Epstein, the late fiancer and convicted sex offender. 

"If this is the price of an endorsement, I will never pay it," she said. 

Trump's endorsement also snubs GOP Rep. Ralph Norman, who leads Mace in a recent poll but trails Evette and other Republican candidates including state Attorney General Alan Wilson.

The primary is June 9. 

Misty Severi is a news reporter for Just The News. You can follow her on X for more coverage.