**Trump and Kemp to Address Hurricane Damage in Georgia**

Former President Donald Trump and Georgia Governor Brian Kemp are set to make their first joint appearance since 2020, as they are scheduled to receive a briefing on hurricane damage in Evans, Georgia, this Friday. This marks a significant moment, given the strained relationship between the two over the past few years.

In recent years, Trump has frequently criticized Kemp for not supporting his efforts to overturn the 2020 election results in Georgia. However, as the current presidential race tightens, Trump has softened his stance towards the governor. The upcoming visit to Evans is focused on assessing the destruction caused by recent hurricanes and they are expected to address the media, although the event is not officially being labeled as a campaign appearance. Columbia County officials extended the invitation to both leaders, according to an anonymous source familiar with the situation.

Earlier this week, Trump visited Valdosta to survey the storm damage while Kemp was busy inspecting destruction in other parts of Georgia. During his visit, Trump inaccurately claimed that Kemp had been unable to reach President Joe Biden and that federal aid was not forthcoming, which Kemp later refuted.

The tension between Trump and Kemp is not new. In August, during a rally, Trump severely criticized the governor, calling him "a bad guy" and an "average governor." He also made disparaging remarks about Kemp’s wife, who had publicly announced her intention to write in Kemp's name for the presidential vote this fall. Kemp, on his part, had steered clear of Trump’s events but maintained that he would support the GOP candidate who secures the presidential nomination.

Despite the past differences, efforts from mutual connections to ease the animosity appear to have worked. By late August, Trump had begun to offer public praises for Kemp, coinciding with Kemp’s comments on Fox News advocating for Trump's return to the White House.

Notably, Governor Kemp did not meet with President Biden during his visit to the state on Thursday, signaling a unique dynamic as political leaders navigate their responsibilities and campaign strategies.