North Carolina Republican Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson announced Saturday that he was treated for burns suffered when he accidentally touched an exhaust pipe at a truck show while campaigning for governor.
Robinson was injured Friday evening during an appearance at the Mayberry Truck Show in Mount Airy, according to a statement from his campaign spokesperson Mike Lonergan.
Lonergan revealed that Robinson received treatment at Northern Regional Hospital in Mount Airy for second-degree burns. He later referred to a video posted on the social media platform X, in which Robinson, with a bandaged left hand, explained the incident to his supporters.
Robinson recounted that he had been riding in a “big rig” as part of a show parade. As he was dismounting the truck, supporters approached him. In an effort to avoid bumping into them, Robinson said he inadvertently placed his hand on the truck’s scalding hot exhaust pipe.
“It burned my hand, but I am fine,” Robinson assured his audience.
Robinson, who has served as lieutenant governor since 2021, is currently running against Democratic gubernatorial nominee Josh Stein, the present attorney general. Current Gov. Roy Cooper, a Democrat, is barred by term limits from seeking reelection this fall.
Recently, Robinson has faced distancing from many Republicans following a Sept. 19 CNN report that alleged he posted strongly worded racial and sexual comments on an online message board. In the aftermath of this report, a dozen staff members from his campaign or the Lieutenant Governor’s Office resigned.
Robinson, who has previously faced criticism for inflammatory comments, denied writing the messages attributed to him by CNN, stating that they were posted over a decade ago. He has since hired a law firm to conduct an investigation into the matter.
Mount Airy, situated approximately 100 miles north of Charlotte near the Virginia border, gained fame as the hometown of the late television star Andy Griffith. The community inspired the fictional town of Mayberry in “The Andy Griffith Show,” which aired during the 1960s. City leaders have heavily embraced this historical connection by hosting homages and festivals related to the show.
