Former President Donald Trump urged voters in Tennessee's 7th Congressional District to back Republican Matt Van Epps in the Dec. 2 special election, accusing Democratic challenger Aftyn Behn of "openly disdaining country music" and making a series of additional allegations on his Truth Social account.
On Sunday, Trump wrote on Truth Social: "I am asking all America First Patriots in Tennessee’s 7th Congressional District, who haven’t voted yet, to please GET OUT AND VOTE on Election Day, Tuesday, December 2nd, for a phenomenal Candidate, Matt Van Epps." He added that Van Epps is "fighting against a woman who hates Christianity, will take away your guns, wants Open Borders, Transgender for everybody, men in women’s sports, and openly disdains Country music," and asserted "IT'S ON TAPE." The post did not include evidence backing those broader claims.
Matt Van Epps, a former commissioner of the Tennessee Department of General Services, is the Republican nominee competing to fill the seat vacated earlier this year by Rep. Mark Green (R). Aftyn Behn, a state representative, is the Democratic challenger in the special election.
Republicans highlighted comments Behn made on a 2020 episode of the podcast "Grits," where she said: "I’ve been heavily involved in the Nashville mayoral race because I hate this city, I hate the bachelorettes, I hate the pedal taverns, I hate country music," adding she disliked "all the things that make Nashville apparently an 'it city' to the rest of the country."
Behn addressed the podcast remarks in a video last month, saying she wants Nashville to be "a place where working people can thrive" and acknowledging frustration with some aspects of the city. She also recounted being moved at the Country Music Hall of Fame and posted, "NO, I DO NOT HATE THE CITY I REPRESENT," accompanied by laughing emojis.
Responding to Trump's post, Behn campaign manager Kate Briefs said the president was lying and suggested his intervention reflected concern about his approval ratings. Briefs emphasized Behn’s affordability message — lowering grocery, housing and health-care costs — and said it was resonating across party lines as the contest tightened.
Polling and stakes
Though Tennessee’s 7th District is traditionally Republican, at least one recent poll from Emerson College Polling and The Hill found the race essentially tied. Democrats argue a strong showing here could signal voter enthusiasm heading into next year’s midterms, while Republicans are defending a seat they consider favorable.
Close races often generate heated rhetoric; reporters note that specific allegations in Trump's Truth Social post were presented without supporting evidence. Voters in the district will determine the outcome on Election Day, Tuesday, Dec. 2.
