Trump Endorses Establishment GOP Candidate In Montana Senate Primary Over Freedom Caucus Rep

AP Photo/Andrew Harnik

Former President Donald Trump endorsed Friday ex-Navy SEAL and aerospace millionaire Tim Sheehy in the GOP primary to run against incumbent Sen. John Tester (D-MT).

Tester’s seat is considered one of the most likely pickups for Republicans in 2024 and the GOP primary has already created a major dustup within the party as Rep. Matt Rosendale (R-MT) has also entered the race.

“I LOVE MONTANA! Tim Sheehy is an American Hero and highly successful Businessman from the Great State of Montana. He is strongly supported by our incredible Chairman of the NRSC, Steve Daines, and many other patriotic Senators and Republicans who have endorsed our Campaign to, MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!” Trump wrote on his Truth Social account, adding:

I also respect Matt Rosendale, and was very happy to Endorse him in the past – and will Endorse him again in the future should he decide to change course and run for his Congressional Seat. But in this instance, Tim is the candidate who is currently best-positioned to DEFEAT Lazy Jon Tester, and Regain the Republican Majority in the United States Senate.

Tim is a Political Outsider, Strong on the Border, the Military/Vets, and our constantly under siege Second Amendment. He will stand tall in the fight against the Radical Left Democrats, who are Destroying our Country. Also, he is far more likely to Defeat Lazy Jon. America First Patriot Tim Sheehy has my Complete and Total Endorsement!

MAGA diehard and influencer Steve Bannon has been pushing hard for Rosendale, who has also held events in the state with Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL). Bannon has dubbed Sheehy the candidate of choice for GOP leader Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY) and called Sen. Daines “a running dog” for McConnell.

MAGA world has been divided over the split between Rosendale, a House Freedom Caucus member, and Sheehy. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) endorsed Sheehy and brutally attacked critics on the right, including Rosendale, in the process.

In late January, the Montana Republican Party uninvited a pro-Trump GOP operative and online influencer as the keynote speaker from its winter kickoff convention in February.

Alex Bruesewitz, a close ally of Donald Trump Jr, announced on X he had been dropped from the event, writing, “I was scheduled to be the keynote speaker at the upcoming @MTGOP convention. But I was just informed that my speech was CANCELED because I criticized Rep. Matt Rosendale for being disloyal to President Trump.”