May 01, 2018
‘Disgraceful’: Trump Super PAC Unloads on Tester in New Ad
President Donald Trump’s political operation is intensifying its offensive against Sen. Jon Tester (D-Mont.), launching a new TV ad labeling him “disgraceful” and “dishonest” for his role in taking down a Trump Cabinet pick.
“In Montana, we value integrity and support our president,” says the ad from the pro-Trump America First Action super PAC. “But Jon Tester spread false information about a respected Navy admiral, helping D.C. Democrats derail President Trump’s Veterans Affairs nominee.”
The spot goes on to say that Tester, one of the most vulnerable Democratic incumbents up for re-election in 2018, “betrayed our trust, our veterans and our president,” concluding that “it’s time for him to go.”
Trump has vowed to exact revenge on Tester for helping to sink Rear Adm. Ronny Jackson, who’d been Trump’s choice to run the Veterans Affairs Department. The president, eager to go after a Democratic incumbent confronting a treacherous re-election bid, has accused Tester of spreading false information about Jackson’s background in an effort to destroy the nomination.
During an interview with “Fox and Friends” last week, the president said Tester should “have a big price to pay” with voters in his conservative state.
“I watch what Jon Tester, of Montana — a state that I won by, like, over 20 points, you know, really, they love me and I love them,” Trump added. “And I want to tell you that Jon Tester, I think this is going to cause him a lot of problems in his state.”
Later, during a campaign-style rally in Michigan on Saturday evening, the president went after Tester again, saying that he knew of damaging information about him.
“I know things about Tester that I could say, too,” Trump told the crowd. “And if I said them, he’d never be elected again.”
America First Action, which is the principal pro-Trump super PAC, is spending around $344,000 to air the commercial on Fox News and broadcast stations throughout the state.