President Donald Trump lauded Tennessee U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) on Wednesday as an “incredible” and “very special” leader, saying Tennessee is “lucky” to have her as she runs for governor.
During his remarks at the White House on Trump Accounts, created under the One Big Beautiful Bill, the president recognized Blackburn from the crowd and asked her to stand, saying, “Marsha Blackburn is an incredible person.”
President @realDonaldTrump: “You’re a very special person.”
Thank you for the support and kind words, Mr. President! As the next Governor of Tennessee, you have my word: I will NEVER let you down! pic.twitter.com/5mMHVaW1X0
— Marsha Blackburn (@VoteMarsha) January 28, 2026
Trump continued, saying he was disappointed to see Blackburn leave the Senate to run for Tennessee governor but praised her as a talented and loyal ally, telling her that Tennessee would be lucky to have her and thanking her for standing by him throughout his presidency.
“Unfortunately she’s running for governor for Tennessee,” Trump said. “I’d love her not to – I begged her; I said, ‘Marsha, we don’t want to lose you in the Senate’ but I have to say they’re lucky – they’re lucky to get you because you are a talent and a great person and you’ve been with me all the way and I appreciate it and you’re a very special person.”
Blackburn, via her campaign X account, responded to the president’s comments, writing in a post, “Thank you for the support and kind words, Mr. President!”
“As the next Governor of Tennessee, you have my word: I will NEVER let you down,” she added.
Blackburn faces contenders U.S. Representative John Rose (R-TN-06), Tennessee State Representative Monty Fritts (Kingston), and Cito Pellegra for the Republican nomination in the gubernatorial race.
Trump’s remarks hailing Blackburn as a loyal ally to his administration comes as the incumbent senator has been found to be the overwhelming favorite Republican candidate in the 2026 gubernatorial election, according to statewide polls conducted by the Beacon Center of Tennessee.
The Beacon Center’s most recent poll in November showed Blackburn with a 49-point lead over Rose and 52-point lead over Fritts among primary voters.
Blackburn’s bid for governor has been endorsed by the likes of Turning Point Action, the conservative Club for Growth PAC, and many prominent Republican leaders across the Volunteer State, including U.S. Representatives Tim Burchett (R-TN-02) and Chuck Fleischmann (R-TN-03), Knox County Mayor Glenn Jacobs, Tennessee Senate Majority Leader Jack Johnson (R-Franklin), and others.
The Republican primary for the Tennessee gubernatorial race is scheduled for August 6, 2026.
Watch Trump’s full remarks:
– – –
Kaitlin Housler is a reporter at The Tennessee Star and The Star News Network. Follow Kaitlin on X / Twitter.
