Herschel Walker, theRepublican nominee for Senate in Georgia, wants to set the record straight about how and why he got into the race. As it turns out, it had more to do with prayer than with his longtime friend and political supporterDonald Trump.
“One thing that people don’t know is President Trump never asked me. I need to tell him that he never asked,” Walker, 60,said during an interviewon the PBS showLove & Respect with Killer Mike. “I heard it all on television that he’s going to ask Herschel, saying Herschel is going to run. President Trump never came out and said ‘Herschel, will you run for that Senate seat?'”
Walker, a controversial figure who’s been accused of lying about his academic achievements and business records — thenlying about telling lies—announced his candidacyback in August of last year. Months before, the former president was already calling for the college football legend to enter the race to unseat Democratic freshman Sen. Raphael Warnock.
“He would be unstoppable, just like he was when he played for the Georgia Bulldogs,” Trumptold supportersin March 2021. “He is also a GREAT person. Run Herschel, run!”
Despite the public appeals, Walker said in his interview with Killer Mike that the former president never personally requested he throw his hat in the ring.
“He never asked, so I’m mad at him, because he never asked but he’s taking credit that he asked,” Walker said.
Republican Senate candidate Herschel Walker.Sean Rayford/Getty
His decision, Walker added, was a spiritual one.
“I prayed about it,” Walker said. “To be honest with you, I was praying that God would bring someone else. I’m like, ‘God, I’m happy. My life is doing well. I’ve got a company. I’m rolling.'”
Walker said he took his leap of faith in part because his parents taught him to ask, “What can I do to help?” even if “something is wrong that’s got nothing to do with who I am or what I’ve done in life.”
“I told President Trump and Leader McConnell, I said, ‘Wait a minute. You endorsed me and you endorsed me, but I’ll do this. Y’all may have endorsed me but I’ve got to do it my way,'” Walker said. “‘Thank you for the endorsement but we got to do it the way Herschel’s going to do it because people got to trust me not trust you.'”
Now that he’s earned the nomination, Walker’s high-level support will likely continue, even if he is “mad” at Trump, whom he’s known for years.
“We have more of a friend relationship. His two older kids, Ivanka and Little Donald, were with my family a great deal during the summers for five years when they were little kids. They traveled with my family,” Walker explained. “He’s eaten at my home and I’ve eaten at his home.”
The candidate’s son,right-wing social media star Christian Walker, also came up in the interview with Killer Mike, who asked about thewhite-hot issueof Critical Race Theory (CRT), a set of academic concepts that consider how the U.S.’ legacy of slavery, racial inequality and the law are connected.
Herschel Walker (left) and son Christian Walker.Christian Walker/Twitter
“Our kids aren’t being educated on anything. Right now, they don’t even want to give our kids an education,” Walker replied.
“My son, he’s Black, Hispanic and Italian,” he continued. “I want him to know his Black history as well. He went to a public school. He didn’t even know some of the Black history. I said, ‘No, no, you’re going to learn this.’ I want to teach him that as well but that’s not being taught in schools … I want to teach kids about all history of the United States of America.”
Killer Mike also asked Walker about supporting his son, describing him as a “fierce conservative” who “dates and is interested in men.”
“He’s responsible for himself. He’s at an age now that he’s got to answer to his own Christian beliefs. I can’t answer for him,” Walker said. “I taught him to be a good kid. I taught him education. But one thing about it, I love this kid to death.”
The younger WalkertweetedWednesday about being labeled “gay.”
“Pride month is starting so I’d like to announce to everyone that I’m NOT gay,” Christian Walker wrote. “I’m attracted to men but I refuse to identify with the rainbow cult. I don’t believe in indoctrinating children. My whole identity isn’t my sexuality. And I don’t go to gay bars. Don’t call me gay.”
Walker praised his outspoken son and told Killer Mike about prioritizing his education and staying present in his life despite no longer being married to his son’s mother.
“Does he drive me crazy sometimes? Yes, he does,” Walker said. “I’m going to be there with him no matter what. I love that little boy.”
source: people.com
