Trump is tickled by Virginia senate GOP candidate’s distinctive title

Former President Donald Trump appeared amused by Virginia Senate candidate Hung Cao’s name during a campaign pit stop in the politician’s home state.

‘This is a great gentleman. I love his name: Hung Cao,’ Trump, 78, said at a restaurant in Virginia alongside the candidate, who moved to the state by way of West Africa as a refugee in the wake of the Vietnam War.

‘I love that name. And that name alone can get you elected,’ a visibly tickled Trump said during the event Monday, spurring patrons, and even 52-year-old Cao, to laugh.

‘It’s really an honor to be with you,’ Trump told those convened at Truong Tien Vietnamese Restaurant in Falls Church, with the republican newcomer poised to take on Democrat Tim Kaine stationed to his right. ‘Thank you.’ 

In a speech that also saw the ex-commander-in-chief juxtapose the supposed laziness of Joe Biden with the hardworking nature of Vietnamese-Americans, Trump mainly sang praises for Cao  – eventually spurring a chant of ‘U-S-A.’

‘This is a great gentleman. I love his name: Hung Cao,’ Trump, 78, said at a Vietnamese restaurant in Virginia alongside the senate candidate, who moved to the state by way of West Africa as a refugee following the Vietnam War

Cao, a Republican, is set to take on Tim Kaine in the state’s senate elections this November. Trump, seen here with the candidate during a meeting this year, has surfaced as one of his staunchest supporters

 ‘I don’t know what it is. You’ll have to explain it. But the Vietnamese community loves me, and I love them,’ Trump told the crowd of supporters convened at the eatery at the town’s Eden Center Monday morning.

Of Cao, he said, ‘We think he’s got a very good chance of winning for the Senate. And I really believe it. 

‘I hope your community gets out and really supports him, like 100 percent,’ he said. 

‘Because you can win. You can win. Definitely win. And we’re looking to win the state. And I think we will win the state.’

Cao, a retired Navy captain who came to the US in the 70s, proceeded to address the crowd in both Vietnamese and English.

‘I’m so honored to represent the Vietnamese-American community. Next year is the 50th anniversary of fall Saigon,’ he said of the the capture of the capital of South Vietnam by communist North Vietnam and the Viet Cong on April 30, 1975

‘And we’ll have the first Vietnamese American U.S. senator on the anniversary,’ the Republican said.

Trump, in turn, talked up the political newcomer, who since moving to the town of Purcellville has been an active member of their community and church. 

‘I love that name. And that name alone can get you elected,’ a visibly tickled Trump said during the event Monday, spurring patrons, and even 52-year-old Cao, to laugh

‘More importantly [from his name], actually,’ Trump said of his Vietnamese American ally, ‘he’s tremendous. He ran a great primary campaign. I endorsed him very early and he did very well’

‘More importantly [from his name], actually,’ Trump said of his Vietnamese American ally, ‘he’s tremendous. 

‘He ran a great primary campaign. I endorsed him very early and he did very well.

‘We’re looking at polls that are showing us with a lead in this state, which is traditionally not necessarily for Republicans,’ Trump said at a point.

‘But I’m not the average Republican… and neither are you.’

Cao, the father of five children, is poised to take on Kaine come November, in a race where, as of writing, Kaine maintains a substantial lead.

That said, as Trump indicated, the tides could shift, as Cao bills himself as a moderate conservative with Christian values, as well as a former vet who served in the US military.

That stint came shortly after Cao’s arrival in the states following the fall of Saigon in 1975, when he made the move as a small child.

At a point in the talk, Trump drew a contrast between the alleged laziness of Biden and the hard-working Vietnamese people, telling onlookers, ‘We are the closest to World War III we’ve ever been. And we have a man who just took a vacation in California and he came back today.

Cao, a father of five, bills himself as a moderate conservative with Christian values, as well as a former vet who served in the US Navy

His service came shortly after Cao’s arrival in the states following the fall of Saigon in 1975, when he made the move as a small child.

Trump even took jabs at Joe Biden while talking up the Vietnamese, saying ‘Where’s he going?’, a little over a month since he dropped out of the race

‘Delaware – another vacation, he’s going another week,’ he added, Cao at his side. ‘That’s not the Vietnamese – they’re hard-working’. Biden and first lady Jill Biden are seen disembark from Air Force One at Dover Air Force Base prior to departure for Rehoboth Beach earlier in the day

Trump on Monday even took jabs at Joe Biden, saying ‘Where’s he going?’, a little over a month since he dropped out of the presidential race. 

‘Delaware — another vacation, he’s going another week,’ he added, with Cao at his side. ‘That’s not the Vietnamese — they’re hard-working’ 

The former president proceeded to sign autographs and speak at length with patrons, with Cao at his side all the while.

‘Make America Great Again!’ one restaurant goer shouted in a thick Vietnamese accident, drawing a smile and laugh from the former president.

Trump, meanwhile, is set to face off with Vice President Kamala Harris in November.