Germany was on Burt Jones’ mind.
President Donald Trump had offered to make the Georgia lieutenant governor the ambassador to one of Europe’s largest countries — an extravagant, if common, consolation for a Republican rebounding from a primary loss. But Trump wanted something in exchange for the new gig: for Jones to endorse Rick Jackson, the Republican nominee for governor, people familiar with the conversations told NOTUS.
Because Jones has been unwilling to acquiesce, the appointment is in doubt, those sources said, speaking on the condition of anonymity to detail private deliberations.
In recent weeks, Trump has sought a détente between Jones, an ardent ally who received the president’s endorsement for governor in December, and Jackson, the political upstart, to unify the party behind Jackson. Jackson is now in a close contest against former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms to succeed Gov. Brian Kemp, a Republican who is term-limited.
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Jackson and Jones met a few weeks ago at Trump’s urging, according to a person familiar with the dynamics, with the president hoping they could overcome Jones’ anger to resolve their differences. The person added that the meeting was cold and unproductive. A spokesperson for Jackson’s campaign confirmed the meeting took place and said Jackson would welcome Jones’ support in the election.
Jones’ camp, the people familiar said, has their own demand for any potential endorsement of Jackson: a lawsuit settlement valued around $25 million. The pair traded lawsuits during the primary. Jones’ family’s gas company sued Jackson for defamation in June. The suit accused Jackson of using the company’s branding to make false claims about Jones. It sought $100 million in damages.
Jackson has sued Jones twice. The first was a federal lawsuit to restrict spending from Jones’ leadership committee. The second was a defamation lawsuit after Jones’ campaign accused Jackson’s business of working with Planned Parenthood.
Jones loaned his campaign $25 million.
“The president did ask Lt. Governor Jones and Rick Jackson to meet, but nothing was offered in exchange,” a spokesperson for Jones said in a statement to NOTUS. The spokesperson did not respond to a follow-up question clarifying whether Trump offered Jones the ambassadorship.
The White House didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.
Trump endorsed Jackson after he won the runoff and praised him at an event in Georgia last month. Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr, who also ran for governor, endorsed Jackson before the runoff. But Jones has refused to endorse until his legal disputes with Jackson are resolved.
Also in the meeting with Jones and Jackson was Jones’ father, Bill Jones. A successful Georgia businessman, the elder Jones financially backed his son’s campaign. At least part of the endorsement resistance comes from him, according to the people familiar, who described a dynamic in which Jones’ father holds significant sway.
Trump has appointed multiple failed Republican candidates to positions within his administration during his second term, with an emphasis on ambassador roles. Two were candidates in Georgia: David Perdue, the ambassador to China, and Herschel Walker, ambassador to the Bahamas.
Georgia has consistently caused headaches for Trump. In 2018, Democrats flipped a Republican congressional seat outside of Atlanta and almost won the governor’s mansion. During the 2020 cycle, Republicans lost both Senate seats, and Joe Biden defeated Trump by the slimmest of margins to turn the state blue for the first time since Bill Clinton in 1992.
Although it returned to red in 2024, some Georgia Republicans are concerned that affordability issues, the Iran war and Trump’s broader unpopularity could allow Democrats to gain ground this year. Republican Rep. Mike Collins’ campaign for Senate has struggled to gain traction against Sen. Jon Ossoff, Democratic candidates are campaigning heavily in deep-red areas and multiple polls have found Bottoms running just ahead of Jackson.
Two of the people familiar said Jackson needs Jones’ endorsement if he wants to beat Bottoms.
“I don’t believe he can win without Jones’ endorsement,” said one of the people. “I don’t know if he can win with it, to be honest. But he definitely can’t win without it.”
Jackson’s spokesperson said that the Republican Party is “rallying around Rick Jackson to support him in our upcoming election against Keisha Lance Bottoms.”
Some are more bullish on Jackson’s chances and downplayed the significance of getting Jones’ public support. Eamon Keegan, a Republican pollster in Georgia, said that it wasn’t uncommon for Democratic candidates in the state to have an edge in summer polling, only to underperform in November.
“People have moved on from the primary runoff now,” Keegan told NOTUS, though he added that it wouldn’t hurt for Jones to endorse Jackson. Keegan said he expects “any Burt Jones supporter will be on Team Jackson on or before November 3rd.”
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