Montana GOP’s rejection of anti-Rosendale speaker sparks uproar in Trumpworld
Trumpworld Launches Fresh Attacks on Rep. Matt Rosendale After Montana GOP Snubs Ally
Trumpworld is lobbing fresh attacks at Rep. Matt Rosendale (R-MT) after the Montana GOP uninvited an ally of the former president from speaking at its winter convention.
On Monday, the state party informed Alex Bruesewitz, a Rosendale critic with close ties to Donald Trump Jr., that he would no longer be invited to deliver a keynote address at its winter kickoff.
The decision, first reported by the Washington Examiner, followed intense blowback from state allies of Rosendale, who complained the invitation would break the party’s pledge of neutrality in the Montana U.S. Senate race.
Bruesewitz has signaled his support for businessman and former Navy SEAL Tim Sheehy, who could face a primary challenge from Rosendale in the coming weeks.
Alex Bruesewitz poses with former President Donald Trump and Donald Trump Jr. (Photo courtesy of Alex Bruesewitz)
The invitation prompted a wave of emails, text messages, and phone calls from Rosendale allies, according to one source familiar with the matter, and members of the party executive board were also “not thrilled.”
But the decision to bow to that pressure has set off an even louder, and more public, response from Trump allies accusing the Montana GOP of slighting the former president himself.
“It’s really disappointing to see some Republicans in Montana engage in leftwing cancel culture. It’s even more disappointing that they would target one of my father’s strongest and most loyal supporters,” Trump Jr. posted on X on Wednesday.
The controversy goes deeper than upset over a Trump ally being snubbed. Conservatives in Donald Trump’s orbit have grown increasingly hostile toward Rosendale since the speaker’s race last year, during which he declined to take the former president’s phone call on the House floor.
His October endorsement of Trump, perceived as late support for his 2024 run, fractured the relationship further.
Rosendale has denied lobbying against Bruesewitz’s speech. “I’ll be honest with you. I don’t even know who this guy Alan is,” he told the Washington Examiner on Monday. “I’ve had my hands full with productive work.”
But Trump allies place blame directly at Rosendale’s feet.
“Shame on Matt Rosendale for getting @alexbruesewitz canceled,” posted Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA), who endorsed Sheehy last week.
Trump allies from Rep. Jim Banks (R-IN) to Kimberly Guilfoyle have called on the Montana GOP to reverse course following its decision. Meanwhile, Bruesewitz told a local radio station that he harbors no “ill will” toward the state party following the dust-up.
The blowback, however, spells trouble for Rosendale specifically. Sheehy has the support of the National Republican Senatorial Committee and even the Club for Growth, a one-time ally of Rosendale.
The episode suggests Rosendale can also expect resistance from Trumpworld, and perhaps the former president, should he mount a Senate run.
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Rosendale would not be entirely without allies. Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) and Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) are in his corner, as are members of the state Freedom Caucus.
But he would lack critical financial backing in what promises to be a contentious Senate primary.
What challenges does the Republican Party face as it navigates a post-Trump world and tries to heal its internal divisions
One of President Trump’s closest allies,” said Jason Miller, a senior advisor to the former president. “Matt Rosendale has been a steadfast supporter of President Trump and his America First agenda. It is regrettable that the Montana GOP would snub him and his ally, Alex Bruesewitz, in this way.”
The fallout from the controversy has highlighted the ongoing infighting within the Republican Party as it wrestles with the legacy of Donald Trump. While some members see Trump as a critical ally who brought energy and enthusiasm to the party, others believe that his divisive rhetoric and actions have tarnished the party’s image and need to be left behind.
This divide has played out in various state party organizations, including in Montana, where tensions have been running high. Rosendale, a staunch Trump supporter, is seen by many conservatives as a top contender for the Republican nomination in the upcoming Senate race. However, his potential challenger, Tim Sheehy, has also garnered support from Trump loyalists, leading to a political showdown within the party.
The decision to rescind Bruesewitz’s speaking engagement at the winter convention was seen by some as an attempt to maintain party unity and avoid taking sides in the looming primary contest. However, it has only served to further exacerbate tensions and deepen divisions within the party.
Trump allies have been quick to condemn the Montana GOP’s decision, accusing them of bowing to pressure from establishment Republicans and betraying the former president’s loyal supporters. They argue that by snubbing Rosendale and his ally, the party is abandoning its commitment to the America First agenda and is turning its back on the grassroots movement that propelled Trump to the White House.
On the other hand, some Republicans argue that the party needs to move on from the Trump era and focus on building a broader coalition that can attract a wider range of voters. They argue that clinging too closely to Trump and his allies will only further alienate moderate voters and make it difficult for the party to regain control of Congress and the White House in future elections.
This clash between the Trump loyalists and the more establishment wing of the party is likely to persist as the Republican Party grapples with its post-Trump identity. As primary contests heat up and candidates align themselves with different factions within the party, tensions are likely to rise and divisions may deepen.
Ultimately, the Montana GOP’s decision to rescind Bruesewitz’s speaking engagement is just one example of the broader challenges facing the party as it navigates a post-Trump world. Whether the GOP can heal its internal divisions and unite behind a common agenda will determine its future success in upcoming elections.
In the meantime, the infighting and attacks within Trumpworld continue to dominate headlines, highlighting the ongoing power struggle within the party and the uncertainty of its future direction. As Republicans grapple with the fallout from the Trump presidency, they are faced with the task of finding a path forward that balances the need for unity with the demands of a deeply divided party.
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