From West Virginia’s governor, Jim Justice

"I don't know how in the world you could watch that and not be impressed...What a masterful job he did last night." -- Gov. Justice, commenting on Donald Trump's announcement for the presidency.

— Phil Kabler (@PhilKabler) November 16, 2022

Really, Governor?

Alex Mooney

Yesterday, at his senatorial announcement, Mooney made this commitment to Trump's candidacy:

Mooney also said he will support Trump’s bid for the White House if he announces his plans to run for the GOP presidential nomination in 2024.

The WV GOP

I check the WV GOP’s Twitter feed a couple of times a week. Their tweets consist mostly of anti-Biden comments, what the state’s Republicans are saying, and promos for local Republican events. Most surprising to me, given Trump’s popularity in the state, is the former president's disappearance from the site – I cannot remember the last time his name appeared. Earlier today, the Republican Party Chair, Elgine McArdle, appeared on Hoppy Kercheval’s Metro News talk show and was asked about the Trump announcement:

What are Elgine McArdle's, West Virginia Republican Party Chair, thoughts on former President Donald Trumps announcement last night regarding him running against for U.S. President in 2024. She joins @HoppyKercheval. WATCH: https://t.co/yCFQ3nm85Y pic.twitter.com/OLFtvsYMvb

— MetroNews (@WVMetroNews) November 16, 2022

I realize that the chair needs to be fair to all potential candidates. Even so, and especially compared to Mooney and Justice, her comments showed little enthusiasm for his announcement; they were very matter-of-fact.

Rupert Murdoch’s empire

Fox News appears to be moving on. The network cut away from Trump's speech before he was even done:

Fox News cuts away from Donald Trump’s 2024 presidential announcement. That’s when you know. pic.twitter.com/arAbGGRcIx

— The Recount (@therecount) November 16, 2022

The Wall Street Journal:

The Wall Street Journal’s editorial board said the Republican Party and United States would be best served if former President Trump “ceded the field to the next generation” for the 2024 presidential election. https://t.co/cLCkxP0lJp

— Yahoo News (@YahooNews) November 16, 2022

Finally, the cover of the Murdoch-owned New York Post, which is not known for its subtlety, was a bit understated:

NY Post: Florida man makes announcement, story on page 26. pic.twitter.com/FQcNC1ewPP

— Jonathan Karl (@jonkarl) November 16, 2022