Donald Trump is steering clear of the high-profile gubernatorial contests in New Jersey and Virginia, as the Republican contenders face an uphill battle.

Known for his enthusiasm in endorsing candidates with a strong chance of victory, Trump has been actively sharing endorsements on his Truth Social platform over the past day.

When those he supports succeed, Trump is quick to attribute part of their success to his influential MAGA brand.

However, with the New Jersey and Virginia gubernatorial races nearing their conclusion, and Republicans Jack Ciattarelli and Winsome Earle-Sears lagging in most polls, Trump has opted not to make any last-minute campaign appearances on their behalf.

Instead, he is choosing to rally from a distance.

According to his official schedule, Trump participated in two tele-rallies on Monday evening to bolster the campaigns of Ciattarelli and Earle-Sears.

While Trump offered effusive praise for Virginia Republican Attorney General Jason Miyares, he made no mention of Earle-Sears, an omission widely perceived as a snub.

Trump is known for not wanting to tie his brand to sinking ships, but the decision to stay away may also demonstrate how his popularity is sagging in the pair of traditionally blue states. 

President Donald Trump’s only scheduled events on Monday are two ‘Tele-Rallies’ for the Republican gubernatorial candidates in New Jersey and Virginia

Republican gubernatorial candidate Winsome Earle-Sears speaks to patrons during a visit at Shorty’s Diner on November 03, 2025 in Richmond, Virginia

New Jersey gubernatorial candidate Jack Ciattarelli with supporters during a campaign rally on Sat., Nov 1, 2025, in Westfield, N.J.

Trump has endorsed the New Jersey candidate Ciattarelli, but he has withheld his official endorsement from Earle-Sears as she remains underwater in the polls. 

Going into the elections on Tuesday, Ciattarelli trailed Democrat Representative Mikie Sherrill by an average of just 3.3 points, according to the RealClearPolitics polling average. 

Meanwhile, Virginia’s Lieutenant Governor Earle-Sears lags behind Democratic ex-Representative Abigail Spanberger by a whopping 9.5 points, the RCP average shows.

‘I don’t think he likes to back candidates he knows are going to lose,’ Chris Saxman, an ex-GOP state delegate from Virginia, told the Washington Post. 

Democrats, on the other hand, have deployed their biggest star to help juice turnout in the final days. 

Former President Barack Obama jetted between two in-person campaign events with both Sherrill and Spanberger on Saturday. 

‘Why would anyone vote for New Jersey and Virginia Gubernatorial Candidates, Mikie Sherrill and Abigail Spanberger, when they want transgender for everybody, men playing in women’s sports, High Crime, and the most expensive Energy prices almost anywhere in the World?’ Trump posted on Sunday.

‘VOTE REPUBLICAN for massive Energy Cost reductions, large-scale Tax Cuts, and basic Common Sense!’

Trump similarly held a brief tele-rally for Ciattarelli last month, where he ripped into Sherrill and criticized her name. 

Trump has not involved himself much in the Virginia gubernatorial race as candidate Earle-Sears trails by a 10-point margin

‘Mikie, as they call her — the only thing she’s got is an unusual name, other than that she’s terrible,’ Trump said at the time.

‘Mikie Sherrill looks [like] such an innocent name, but her energy policies would send your prices soaring and make New Jersey even more expensive than it already is.’