President Donald Trump threw a tantrum over Democratic congressional candidate Aftyn Behn in a social media post, urging voters to back Republican challenger Matt Van Epps in Tuesday’s House special election.

“I ask all America First Patriots in Tennessee’s 7th Congressional District, who have not yet voted, to GO OUT AND VOTE on Election Day, Tuesday, December 2, for a phenomenal candidate, Matt Van Epps,” Trump wrote Sunday on Truth Social.

Trump made many claims about Behn, accusing her of being “a woman who hates Christianity” who “will take away your guns, wants open borders, transgenderism for all, men in women’s sports, and openly despises country music.”

“She said all of these things accurately and without a doubt: IT’S RECORDED! Don’t take this race for granted,” he continued.

The president then chastised “radical left Democrats” for “spending a fortune to beat” Van Epps, whom he called “one of the best candidates we’ve ever had.”

“You can win this election for Matt,” he added. “GO OUT AND VOTE FOR MATT VAN EPPS, who has my complete and total support. HE WILL NEVER DISAPPOINT YOU!”

Behn, a state representative, is running against Van Epps, a former commissioner of the Tennessee Department of General Services, to represent Tennessee’s 7th congressional district after former Rep. Mark Green (R) resigned his seat earlier this year.

Trump’s post came after Behn was widely criticized for comments she made in 2020 while hosting an episode of the “Grits” podcast on the Tennessee Holler Podcast Network.

Tennessee state Rep. Aftyn Behn (R) responded Monday to criticism from President Donald Trump.
Tennessee state Rep. Aftyn Behn (R) responded Monday to criticism from President Donald Trump.

Getty Images/AP

In the episode, Behn said, “I’ve been very involved in the Nashville mayoral race because I hate this city, I hate single girls, I hate pedal taverns, I hate country music.”

He added: “I hate all the things that make Nashville seemingly a ‘trendy city’ to the rest of the country.”

On Monday, Behn responded to Trump’s Truth Social post in a statement to Newsweek.

“President Trump is saying all of these things because he has no plan to address the rising cost of health care and ensure that Tennessee workers can afford health care, food and utilities,” Behn told the outlet.

Behn’s campaign manager Kate Briefs also addressed the backlash over the candidate’s comments in a statement to WZTV News 17 Nashville.

Briefs said “Republicans are panicking” because of their “latest attempt” to “distract from the fact that Washington Republicans and Matt Van Epps are raising costs for Tennessee families and gutting their health care.”

“Aftyn Behn will reduce costs for Tennessee families and make food more affordable by eliminating the state’s food tax,” Briefs added.