President Trump is back in campaign mode.
Just a day before polls will open for Tennessee voters to select the next Representative for the 7th U.S. House Congressional District, President Trump made a phone call at a rally in support of Republican candidate Matt Van Epps.
Listen in on the call here:
Here’s a backup video if needed:
🚨 NOW: Speaker Johnson just put President Trump on SPEAKER at the Matt Van Epps rally for Tennessee's 7th Congressional District election – taking place TOMORROW
"[Democrat Aftyn Behn] HATES Christianity, and HATES country music! How the HELL can you elect someone like that?"… pic.twitter.com/SMYxOs72dp
— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) December 1, 2025
KVEU reported more details on Trump’s phone call and provided some context to the race:
President Donald Trump and top Republicans made a last-ditch push on Monday to prevent embarrassment in a hotly contested Tennessee special election for Congress, while Democrats enlisted former Vice President Al Gore and U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez to back their candidate.
The crush of big-name politicians came as Trump hopes to rebound from recent Republican losses around the country as Tennessee voters choose the next representative for the reliably conservative 7th U.S. House Congressional District on Tuesday. Democrats want a strong showing that could propel them in next year’s midterm elections that will determine control of Congress.
House Speaker Mike Johnson, who is trying to protect his party’s narrow majority, dialed up Trump while speaking at a rally for Matt Van Epps, the Republican candidate. As Johnson held his phone to the mic, Trump told the crowd inside a decked-out garage on a supporter’s sprawling farm in Franklin to “make it a sweeping victory.”
“The whole world is watching Tennessee right now, and they’re watching your district,” the president said. “It’s a big vote and it’s gonna show something. And it’s gonna show that the Republican Party is stronger than it’s ever been.”
Republican Party Chairman Joe Gruters, Gov. Bill Lee, and Sens. Marsha Blackburn and Bill Hagerty also turned out for Van Epps, who previously served as an Army helicopter pilot and as a state general services commissioner. He faces Democratic state Rep. Aftyn Behn.
ADVERTISEMENTRepublicans have expressed concerns about turnout because early voting went into Thanksgiving week and Election Day follows the holiday weekend.
Trump held a virtual rally in November with Van Epps. The president scheduled another call for him later Monday.
Here are some photos from the event:
We are in Tennessee's 7th District where folks are fired up to elect patriot and combat veteran Matt Van Epps TOMORROW. Everything is on the line with our razor-thin majority, and we need @MattForTN in Congress to help us continue our American comeback! pic.twitter.com/wCYqIpVBFS
— Mike Johnson (@MikeJohnson) December 1, 2025
Donald Trump Jr. also showed his support for Van Epps:
Tennessee, listen up.
Tomorrow is the special congressional election for district 7, so get out and vote for @MattForTN , his opponent is total lunatic who supports "police abolition" and every other woke word salad you can imagine
Vote for Matt Van Epps!!! pic.twitter.com/aJ1d7Ker41
— Donald Trump Jr. (@DonaldJTrumpJr) December 1, 2025
Van Epps also made an appearance on Fox News:
America First patriot and veteran Matt Van Epps will help us continue to reduce the cost of living, secure the border, and deliver peace through strength.
It was great to join @MattForTN on the @WillCainShow to discuss tomorrow's election in TN-7 ⤵️pic.twitter.com/wyfc5lolWU
— Mike Johnson (@MikeJohnson) December 1, 2025
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