Skip to main content
3 min read
● InformationalElections / Campaigns

President Trump rails against 'AOC of Tennessee' in call to boost Matt Van Epps on election eve

Trump called Tennessee voters to support Van Epps ahead of the special election.

President Trump rails against 'AOC of Tennessee' in call to boost Matt Van Epps on election eve
Image · New York Post

SOURCE CHECK

TAP FOR WHY
Outlet credibilityNew York Post65/100 MEDIUM
This article1 analysis · Oct 12, 2026
tl;dr

President Trump called into a Tennessee campaign event to support Republican Matt Van Epps before a special election, attacking Democratic candidate Aftyn Behn. The contest could affect Republicans’ narrow House majority.

Community verdict

VOTING CLOSED
How does this story look for
Matt Van Epps R · TN-7
NOT RATEDCLOSED

No good or bad look here

This story reports what happened without casting Van Epps in a good or bad light, so readers don’t rate it and it doesn’t count toward Van Epps’s record.

● INFORMATIONAL

People in this story

SWIPE →
Matt Van Epps
R · TN-7

Republican candidate in the Tennessee special election whom Trump urged voters to support

PRIMARY SUBJECT
Donald Trump
R · President of the United States

President who campaigned by phone for Van Epps and criticized Behn

Trump's version of this story ↗
Aftyn Behn
D · TN

Democratic candidate whom Trump criticized during his campaign call

Behn's version of this story ↗
Mark E. Green
Former U.S. Representative (R-TN)

Former representative whose retirement left the seat vacant

Mike Johnson
R · LA-4

Speaker of the House who called Trump into the campaign event and campaigned for Van Epps

Thomas Massie
R · KY-4

Representative cited as a frequent Republican defector on partisan bills

Marjorie Taylor Greene
Former U.S. Representative (R-GA)

Representative whose planned retirement is mentioned in the discussion of the House majority

ALSO MENTIONED  Abhi Rahman, Democratic National Committee deputy communications director who commented on the race

Part of a bigger story

7 OUTLETS
Trump Urges Support for Matt Van Epps Ahead of Tennessee Special Election

Outlets agree that President Donald Trump urged Tennessee voters to support Republican Matt Van Epps before the special House election. Center outlets frame the race as competitive and politically consequential, with several including responses from Democrats or Behn. Right-leaning outlets center Trump's endorsement and turnout appeal, with some also foregrounding his attacks on Behn.

Discussion · 0

What's your take?

Loading comments…