Prominent Republicans, including Senators J.D. Vance, Lindsey Graham, and Tom Cotton, have declined to disavow North Carolina Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson after CNN reported his controversial online comments. Robinson faced scrutiny after being exposed for referring to himself as a "black NAZI" and expressing support for reinstating slavery before entering politics. Despite the troubling allegations, GOP vice presidential nominee J.D. Vance seemed hesitant to take a firm stance, stating that such matters should be left to the court of public opinion.

Senator Tom Cotton also refrained from distancing himself from Robinson, acknowledging the seriousness of the allegations and calling for Robinson to provide more clarity on the issue. Meanwhile, Senator Lindsey Graham emphasized that Robinson should be given a chance to defend himself but acknowledged that if the accusations are true, he would be unfit for office. Graham highlighted the severity of the charges against Robinson, stating that if they are false, Robinson would have strong grounds for a libel lawsuit.

Robinson, the Republican nominee for governor endorsed by former President Donald Trump, faced backlash for his comments made on a message board on a pornography site between 2008 and 2012. Among other controversial statements, Robinson praised Hitler's Mein Kampf and denigrated former President Barack Obama. Despite his anti-transgender rhetoric as a candidate, Robinson's past online comments revealed conflicting views on transgender issues, raising questions about his consistency and credibility. Robinson denied making the inflammatory remarks on the message board, dismissing them as fabrications and tabloid lies.