Trump makes 11th-hour plea for Matt Van Epps over Aftyn Behn, whom he claims ‘hates Christianity’
In a high-stakes push just days before the special election for Tennessee’s 7th Congressional District, former President Donald Trump took to Truth Social to rally support for Republican nominee Matt Van Epps. In his post, Trump implored “all America First Patriots” in the district to cast their votes on December 2, underscoring the importance of the election by stating, “Do not take this Race for granted.” Trump’s endorsement of Van Epps, a lieutenant colonel in the Tennessee Army National Guard and a former Army helicopter pilot, comes with strong praise, as he describes the candidate as one of the best he has ever seen. Trump further criticized Van Epps’ Democratic opponent, state Rep. Aftyn Behn, alleging that she holds anti-Christian views, supports gun control, and promotes policies he claims undermine traditional values, such as transgender participation in sports.
Behn has garnered national attention for her controversial past remarks, including her stance on police funding and her criticisms of the country music scene. During a recent interview, she was pressed to clarify previous statements that suggested she supported defunding the police, a topic that has become increasingly sensitive in the political landscape. While she refrained from engaging in what she termed “cable news talking points,” Behn emphasized the importance of local solutions to community problems, distancing herself from federal or state overreach. As the election approaches, the stakes are high, with Trump asserting that significant financial resources are being funneled by “Radical Left Democrats” to defeat Van Epps, framing the election as a critical battleground for conservative values in Tennessee.
This special election not only reflects the ongoing national political narrative but also highlights the deep divisions within American society regarding issues such as law enforcement, cultural identity, and local governance. With Trump’s endorsement serving as a powerful tool for mobilizing voters, the outcome of this election could signal broader trends in Republican support and the effectiveness of Trump’s influence in local races. As both candidates prepare for the final push, the spotlight remains firmly on Tennessee’s 7th Congressional District, making it a key election to watch in the context of the upcoming political landscape.
President
Donald Trump
called on Tennesseans to vote for Matt Van Epps, the Republican nominee in the special election for the Volunteer State’s 7th Congressional District, in a Truth Social post on Sunday.
Just two days ahead of the election on Dec. 2, Trump urged “all America First Patriots in Tennessee’s 7th Congressional District, who haven’t voted yet, to please GET OUT AND VOTE.”
The president claimed that Van Epps’ Democratic opponent, state Rep. Aftyn Behn, “hates Christianity, will take away your guns, wants Open Borders, Transgender for everybody, men in women’s sports, and openly disdains Country music.”
“She said all of these things precisely, and without question — IT’S ON TAPE!” Trump claimed. “Do not take
this Race
for granted.”
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“The Radical Left Democrats are spending a fortune to beat one of the best Candidates we’ve ever had, Matt Van Epps!”
Trump concluded that Van Epps has his “Complete and Total Endorsement” and “WILL NEVER LET YOU DOWN!”
Van Epps, a lieutenant colonel in the Tennessee Army National Guard and a former Army helicopter pilot, was formally endorsed by Trump earlier this year and called his support “an incredible honor.”
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Trump’s post comes as Behn draws national attention for her past comments, ranging from anti-police rhetoric to her dislike of country music and Nashville’s drinking culture.
The Democrat was also once a frequent advocate for cutting police funding, even suggesting that the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department should be defunded.
Last week, Behn was asked to
clarify her previous remarks
during an episode of MS NOW’s “The Weekend.”
“In 2020, you made some tweets that have since been deleted that were very critical of police… 2020 was obviously a very fraught year. Do you still stand by those comments? And if not, is there anything you want to clarify?” host Catherine Rampell asked.
“I’m not going to engage in cable news talking points, but what I will say is that, you know, our communities need solutions,” Behn responded. “We need local people deciding, solving local problems with local solutions. And that’s not the overreach of a federal government or state government of which we are dealing with in Nashville and our cities across the state of Tennessee.”
Fox News Digital’s Paul Steinhauser, Alec Schemmel and Hanna Panreck contributed to this report.
