Former President Donald Trump visited Bozeman on Friday night to rally his supporters in support of Montana’s GOP candidate for the U.S. Senate. He combined his visit with various high-dollar fundraising events.
Trump began his speech in Bozeman by expressing frustration over his travel day. His plane had to land in Billings due to a mechanical issue. He also made a stop in Big Sky for a fundraiser before heading to the Montana State University fieldhouse.
“I really support Tim Sheehy and he better win. He better win,” Trump stated.
U.S. Senate candidate Tim Sheehy is running a competitive race against incumbent Democratic U.S. Sen. Jon Tester, a contest of national significance that could determine control of the Senate.
Sheehy secured the Montana GOP’s primary after receiving Trump’s endorsement, leading to Congressman Matt Rosendale withdrawing from the race due to the former president’s decision.
When Sheehy took the stage, he emphasized his full support for Trump.
“Your task is crucial. If Donald Trump wants to be effective in the White House, he needs control of the Senate. You need to secure him a Senate majority by replacing Jon Tester,” Sheehy urged.
Political science professor Sara Rushing of Montana State University noted that Trump’s desire to defeat Tester brought him to Montana, despite it not being a battleground state for the presidential election.
Rushing mentioned that the rally in Bozeman allowed Trump to target Tester while holding fundraisers nearby with affluent donors at the Yellowstone Club and in Jackson Hole.
“I believe he enjoys the opportunity to visit a liberal stronghold like Bozeman and challenge Tester,” Rushing explained.
Rushing supported this theory by pointing out Trump’s invitation to former White House physician Rear Admiral Ronny Jackson to the rally.
Trump nominated Jackson to lead the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs in 2018, but his nomination was withdrawn following concerns raised by Tester about allegations regarding Jackson’s behavior at work.
Jackson asserted that the allegations were untrue and, during the Bozeman rally, emphasized his eagerness to challenge Tester in his home state after six years of waiting.
“We’re sending Tim Sheehy to the Senate to replace this swamp hippopotamus, Jon Tester,” Jackson declared.
In 2021, the inspector general of the U.S. Department of Justice validated allegations about Jackson’s conduct.
While Trump criticized Tester extensively during his speech, Senator Tester highlighted areas of agreement with the former president on the campaign trail.
During Trump’s visit to Montana, Tester released a video of Joseph Hudson, a Republican from Helena, praising Tester for passing over 20 bills during Trump’s presidency.
Although Trump is expected to win Montana in the presidential election, this will be the first time he and Tester appear on the same ballot.
Trump was adamant that he and Tester are on opposite sides.
“Jon Tester is one of the biggest phonies in American politics,” Trump stated.
Trump focused on stricter border regulations and mass deportation of undocumented immigrants during the rally, topics that resonated with some attendees like Gregg Fuller of Bozeman, who views immigration as a top issue.
An Emerson College poll in March revealed that immigration ranked behind the economy, housing costs, and threats to democracy in terms of voter concerns in Montana.
Joe Williams, a recent transplant to Bozeman from Georgia, voiced concerns about the high cost of living. He plans to support Trump due to the economic measures implemented during his presidency.
Despite Trump’s statement that abortion isn’t a crucial issue this election cycle, Annette Stenger of Belgrade organized a reproductive rights rally to highlight the importance of the issue in influencing undecided voters.
“Reproductive rights and related issues are more significant than many realize, including among Republicans, as many of them are also concerned about this issue,” Stenger stated.
The outcome in November will reveal whose political strategies prove accurate.
