During the Nevada Republican primary for the Senate, Jeff Gunter, a candidate who describes himself as “110 percent pro-Trump,” was shocked when Donald J. Trump endorsed one of his opponents, Sam Brown, over the weekend. Gunter did not take this news well.
Trump announced his endorsement of Brown on his social media platform, Truth Social, after a rally in Las Vegas on Sunday night.
In response, Gunter took to social media on Monday and made baseless claims that a large political donation had been made as a bribe to Trump, prompting the endorsement of Brown. He suggested that pressure from “fearless MAGA warriors” initially deterred Trump from endorsing Brown at the rally.
When asked for evidence to support his claims, Gunter’s campaign responded vaguely, saying to “stay tuned.” The National Republican Senatorial Committee (N.R.S.C.) and Trump’s team labeled Gunter’s accusations as false and defamatory.
The primary in Nevada will determine the Republican candidate to challenge Democratic incumbent Senator Jacky Rosen. Alongside Gunter and Brown, the race includes Jim Marchant, a vocal election denier, and other contenders.
Gunter, a former U.S. ambassador to Iceland under the Trump administration, was particularly stung by Trump’s endorsement of his opponent. However, Brown is currently leading in polls, and Trump has a history of endorsing front-runners in races.
