Brooklyn City Councilwoman Inna Vernikov Gains Endorsement from Donald Trump Jr.
Brooklyn City Councilwoman Inna Vernikov has received a significant endorsement from Donald Trump Jr. in her Republican primary battle. Donald Jr. praised Vernikov as a MAGA fighter in a campaign video where he criticized her opponent, Ari Kagan, as a “hack and fake Republican.”
Vernikov and Kagan are competing to represent the 48th council district in southern Brooklyn, which includes various neighborhoods like Gravesend, Coney Island-Sea Gate, and Midwood.
Donald Jr. highlighted Vernikov’s dedication to fighting against the radical left and preserving the values of the MAGA movement. He urged voters to support Vernikov and keep the movement strong.
President Trump himself has shown support for Vernikov, as evidenced by a photo of them together in 2022.
Kagan, Vernikov’s opponent, switched from Democrat to Republican in 2022 and lost his seat in a race against Democratic Councilman Justin Brannan in 2023.
Vernikov, a Ukrainian-born American Jew, has been an active advocate for issues like combating antisemitism and condemning Russian aggression in Ukraine.
Vernikov’s controversial moment involving a firearm at an anti-Israel rally in 2023 was dismissed due to lack of evidence that the weapon was functional. She holds a concealed carry permit but faced legal repercussions for carrying a firearm at a sensitive location.
Despite the challenges, Vernikov continues to be a prominent figure in the Republican Party and was a keynote speaker at the 2022 state GOP convention.
Kagan, a Russian language journalist and media personality, downplayed the Donald Trump Jr. endorsement, emphasizing Vernikov’s absence in local council matters.
