Trump Blasts Democrat in Fiery Post Over ‘Country Music’ and ‘Christianity’ Claims

President Donald Trump on Sunday blasted a Truth Social post urging voters in Tennessee’s 7th District to back Republican Matt Van Epps and reject Democrat Aftyn Behn. He wrote that Behn “hates Christianity, will take away your guns, wants Open Borders, Transgender for everybody, men in women’s sports, and openly disdains Country music.”

The post named Tuesday, December 2nd as Election Day and called on “all America First Patriots in Tennessee’s 7th Congressional District” to vote. Trump added that Van Epps has his “Complete and Total Endorsement” and declared, “HE WILL NEVER LET YOU DOWN!”

The race is a special election to replace Rep. Mark Green and it has drawn national attention because Democrats hope to narrow the House majority. Outside groups and super PACs have poured money into the contest, turning what once looked local into a high stakes test for both parties.

The flare up followed the resurfacing of a 2020 podcast clip in which Behn said, “I hate the city, I hate the bachelorettes, I hate the pedal taverns, I hate country music, I hate all of the things that make Nashville apparently an ‘it’ city to the rest of the country.” Republicans quickly seized the clip and made it central to their attacks.

Behn pushed back and tried to explain the remarks on a show with Al Sharpton. “As a Nashvillian, I think we all get a little annoyed with the tourists that come to town, but that doesn’t mean I [don’t] love my city. In fact, instead of sitting on the sideline and complaining about it, I decided to run for office, and that’s why I’m the state representative that represents downtown Nashville.”

New polls show the race is tight with the two top candidates separated by only a few points, and early voting numbers suggest interest on both sides. One recent likely voter poll had Van Epps at 48 percent and Behn at 46 percent, while early voting reports and turnout data show a split that could decide the outcome on Election Day.

Money has followed the headlines. Politico reported that House Democratic groups bought $1 million in TV and digital ads for Behn, while Republican aligned groups have spent more than a million to boost Van Epps. Local reporting shows billionaire backed groups have also moved millions into the race, underscoring how seriously both sides view the contest.

For voters in the district the choice now mixes national culture fights with local concern.
Some people care about health care and costs, others say the podcast line about country music misses the point and sounds more like a late stage campaign blooper than a real threat.

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