President Donald Trump has thrown his weight behind a key Republican contender in Tennessee, stirring up a heated battle just days before a crucial special election.
With the Dec. 2 vote looming for Tennessee’s 7th Congressional District, Trump took to Truth Social on Sunday to champion Matt Van Epps, the Republican nominee, while sharply criticizing Democratic state Rep. Aftyn Behn, as reported by Fox News.
Trump’s message to voters was clear and urgent, calling on “all America First Patriots” to turn out for Van Epps. He framed the race as a defining moment for Tennessee values, warning against what he sees as a dangerous progressive agenda.
In his post, Trump painted Behn as a threat to traditional principles, accusing her of opposing core freedoms. He pointed to her alleged disdain for faith, gun rights, and even country music, asserting, “She said all of these things precisely, and without question — IT’S ON TAPE!”
That taped evidence, Trump suggests, leaves no room for doubt about Behn’s positions. Yet, one wonders if the full context of those recordings might tell a different story, or if they’re being amplified to sway undecided voters at the last minute.
Behn’s past remarks have indeed sparked national scrutiny, especially her earlier calls to cut police funding. While she once pushed to defund the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department, her current stance seems to dodge direct accountability for those statements.
Last week, during an appearance on MS NOW’s “The Weekend,” Behn faced questions about her 2020 anti-police rhetoric. When pressed by host Catherine Rampell to clarify, she sidestepped, saying, “I’m not going to engage in cable news talking points, but what I will say is that, you know, our communities need solutions.”
That response hardly clears the air for Tennesseans seeking straight answers. It feels like a pivot to vague platitudes, avoiding the hard questions about whether she still holds those radical views on public safety.
Her history of challenging law enforcement funding raises legitimate concerns for communities prioritizing security over ideological experiments. Voters deserve transparency, not deflections, when deciding who will represent their interests in Congress.
On the other side, Van Epps brings a resume of service as a lieutenant colonel in the Tennessee Army National Guard and a former Army helicopter pilot. Trump hailed him as “one of the best Candidates we’ve ever had,” promising he “WILL NEVER LET YOU DOWN!”
That endorsement carries weight for many who see military discipline as a marker of steady leadership. Van Epps’ background offers a stark contrast to Behn’s record of divisive commentary, positioning him as a unifying figure for the district.
Trump’s earlier formal backing of Van Epps this year, which the candidate called “an incredible honor,” further cements his appeal to those who value loyalty to proven principles. This race, in Trump’s view, isn’t just local—it’s a battle for the soul of American identity.
As the special election nears, the clash between Van Epps and Behn mirrors broader cultural divides playing out across the nation. Trump warned that “Radical Left Democrats are spending a fortune” to defeat Van Epps, suggesting outside forces are meddling in Tennessee’s choice.
That claim taps into a real frustration among many who feel local voices are drowned out by big money and national agendas. Whether Behn’s campaign truly represents such overreach or simply reflects her base’s priorities remains a question for voters to weigh.
Ultimately, this Dec. 2 showdown in Tennessee’s 7th District is about more than one seat. It’s a test of whether traditional values or progressive policies will shape the future, and Trump’s last-minute push for Van Epps underscores just how much is at stake.
