President Donald Trump’s eldest son is in campaign mode — this time boosting one of the Republican candidates for the U.S. Senate in Tennessee.
Donald Trump Jr. was in Gallatin Tuesday to help raise money for Bill Hagerty, the former U.S. ambassador to Japan.
It was Hagerty’s latest endorsement from the first family. Even before he made it official, Tennesseans learned that Hagerty was running to replace retiring Sen. Lamar Alexander via an unexpected tweet by President Trump last year.
Tennessee loving Bill Hagerty, who was my Tennessee Victoy Chair and is now the very outstanding Ambassador to Japan, will be running for the U.S. Senate. He is strong on crime, borders & our 2nd A. Loves our Military & our Vets. Has my Complete & Total Endorsement!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 12, 2019
So, the younger Trump’s visit was not a complete surprise.
“I know that my father needs more guys like this, in there, fighting for him,” he told the crowd of about 250. “No one is going to work harder than my father, this campaign, this family and Bill Hagerty.”
Before getting into politics, Hagerty was a businessman and the state’s economic development commissioner under Gov. Bill Haslam. He was a delegate for former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush in 2016, but the next year Trump appointed him ambassador.
Hagerty said he’d be the ally the president needs in the Senate, “a Christian conservative that will stand with him against the Democrats and their cause for radical socialism. And against those Republicans … that at times are weak and want to side with the Democrats and impeach our president.”
Hagerty is running against Nashville doctor Manny Sethi for the Republican nomination. Meanwhile, Army veteran and attorney James Mackler is seeking the Democratic nomination.
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