Jon Tester said the way for Democrats to win in states President Trump won in 2016 is to “punch him in the face” during an interview on Morning Joe Thursday morning.
The Montana Democratic senator notably won reelection in 2018 despite the president campaigning for the Republican challenger Montana State Auditor Matt Rosendale multiple times in the months prior.
“Let me ask you, how much did Donald Trump win your state by?” Morning Joe host Joe Scarborough asked.
Tester answered, “I think he won by 21 points.”
“So he won by 21 points. You spoke out, you had no problem speaking out against racism in Charlottesville,” Scarborough responded. “You’ve had no problem speaking out against his racist comments, even when supporting him on issues when you agree with those issues and you got reelected.”
He proceeded to urge Tester to advise other Democrats on how to win in 2020.
“Well, I think you don’t take the bait that President Trump came out here. You say that what he has done is absolutely disgraceful for the country and call it for what it is — which is racism,” Tester responded. “Then you talk about things like high costs of health care, high costs of higher education. What you’re going to do on the southern border to help stop the situations down there.
Jon Tester says one thing to voters and does the EXACT OPPOSITE in Washington. Tester takes his orders form Pelosi & Schumer. Tester wants to raise your taxes, take away your 2A, open your borders, and deliver MOB RULE. Retire Tester & Elect America-First Patriot Matt Rosendale!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 19, 2018
“I think those — the kind of issues that really hit home, how you’re going to invest in infrastructure and how you’re going to pay for it, I think those are the issues that really will move the folks who will get you elected,” the senator continued. “I don’t think, even in states where Donald Trump won big, that it does you any good running away from Donald Trump. I think you need to go back and punch him in the face. I mean the truth is this guy is bad for this country.”
