Former President Trump criticized Sen. Jon Tester (D-Mont.), who is up for reelection this fall, during a campaign event in Montana on Friday night. Trump called Tester a “radical left lunatic” and criticized his record on issues like the U.S. southern border.
Trump accused Tester of pretending to be a moderate while voting with President Biden, Vice President Harris, and Senators Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren. He claimed Tester supported “mass amnesty,” opposed building a border wall, and voted against the “Remain in Mexico” policy, which requires asylum seekers to stay in Mexico while their cases are reviewed.
Trump also alleged that Tester’s actions contributed to inflation and mentioned Tester’s opposition to the Keystone XL Pipeline. He made a remark about Tester’s appearance, saying, “he’s got the biggest stomach I have ever seen.”
Trump’s visit comes less than 100 days before the November election, with Republicans eager to unseat Tester, who is seeking a fourth term. Tester is a key target for the GOP because he represents a state Trump won easily in 2020.
Sen. Steve Daines (R-Mont.), who is leading the Senate GOP campaign efforts, is particularly invested in this race. Republican Senate candidate Tim Sheehy, running against Tester in November, joined Daines at Trump’s rally.
In response, Tester has highlighted his work on border issues, including ads that emphasize his efforts to address the border situation and pressure Biden to strengthen border security. Tester supported legislation to detain immigrants who commit crimes and has had tense exchanges with Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas about border security.
Tester’s position on the border is complex. He supports some border measures but believes a wall spanning the entire border is not the right approach. He also supported an amendment for the Keystone XL Pipeline that was later removed from a COVID-19 relief package.
Daines and Sheehy both spoke at Trump’s rally, with Sheehy criticizing Tester as a “rubber stamp” for Biden’s policies. Daines emphasized the importance of electing Sheehy and Trump to reclaim control in Washington.
Polls show Sheehy leading Tester by 49% to 45%, with the Cook Political Report rating the seat as a “toss-up.”