President Donald Trump praised reality TV star Spencer Pratt's surging bid for Los Angeles mayor on Wednesday.
But Pratt continues to keep Trump at an arm's distance.
Trump was asked about Pratt on Wednesday morning at Joint Base Andrews, as he departed for Connecticut to deliver a commencement address. A reporter asked Trump whether he saw himself in Pratt, given their shared reality-TV-star past.
'I'd like to see him do well,' the President responded. 'He's a character. I don't know - I don't know him, I assume he probably supports me. Does he support me?' Trump asked.
The reporter answered, 'I think so.'
'I heard he does. I heard he's a big MAGA person,' Trump added.
Pratt, who is running as a Republican, has been coy about seeking the President's endorsement, especially since he's running in a heavily Democratic area. The reality TV veteran has also pushed that he's not 'MAGA.'
'Everybody wants me to succeed because LA is the most important city in the country,' the former Hills star told TMZ. 'The only support I need is from moms that wanna feel safe in Los Angeles. I'm laser-focused on that.'
President Donald Trump had positive things to say about Republican LA mayoral candidate Spencer Pratt, who became a household name due to appearing on the reality TV show, The Hills
Spencer Pratt, who is running for mayor of Los Angeles as a Republican, has had his campaign ads go viral for showing the exterior of his burned-down house (left) and the open-air drug markets in downtown LA (right)
Over the weekend, Naughty But Nice Substacker Rob Shuter reported that Trump was mulling a Pratt endorsement.
'Trump loves celebrity candidates, and Spencer knows exactly how to dominate headlines,' a Republican insider told Shuter. 'The idea of endorsing him has absolutely been discussed.'
Shuter also reported that Pratt was trying to walk a fine line - attract conservative voters but not get too tied up in national politics.
A Trump endorsement would void the latter.
The President didn't officially endorse Pratt on the JBA tarmac, but he indicated his seal of approval.
'He's doing well,' Trump told reporters.
The President then floated that Pratt could lose due to a 'really rigged vote in California.'
'You have a rigged vote out there,' Trump said.
Republican candidate for Los Angeles mayor, Spencer Pratt (left), and his wife Heidi Montag (right). The couple met while appearing on the reality TV show, The Hills, together
'If we had Jesus Christ come down and count the votes, I would have won California,' Trump claimed.
'Because I do great with Hispanics, but it's a rigged vote,' he added.
Trump has long falsely claimed that he has more support in California - and other blue states - than reported, due to the states' use of mail-in ballots.
He made a similar claim about Maryland on Monday.
'They sent out 38 million votes, nobody knows where they're going,' Trump continued to complain about California. 'It's one of the most, not the worst, I'll give you a list, maybe I'll do my list, California is one of the most dishonest states for voting.'