Donald Trump Jr. called out Republicans on Wednesday after the Montana Republican Party dropped a pro-Trump supporter as the keynote speaker from its upcoming convention in February.
Donald Trump Jr. has been campaigning on behalf of his father, the 2024 Republican presidential candidate nominee. In addition, Trump's campaign has been holding a series of surrogate events featuring top supporters like his eldest son, Donald Trump Jr., South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem, Georgia Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene, and Ben Carson, Trump's former secretary of housing and urban development.
In a post on X, formerly Twitter, Donald Trump Jr called attention to the recent cancellation of a scheduled speech from Alex Bruesewitz, a conservative political consultant, at a Montana GOP convention over his criticisms of Republican Representative Matt Rosendale.
"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 - @alexbruesewitz," Donald Trump Jr. wrote on X.
Newsweek has reached out to Rosendale's office via email for comment.
Bruesewitz, a close ally of Donald Trump Jr. announced on Tuesday in a post on X he had been dropped from the event, writing, "I was scheduled to be the keynote speaker at the upcoming @MTGOP convention. But I was just informed that my speech was CANCELED because I criticized Rep. Matt Rosendale for being disloyal to President Trump. @MattForMontana is a swampy disgrace!"
On Friday, the Montana Republican Party announced that Bruesewitz would be the keynote speaker at its winter kickoff, a two-day, grassroots training event that will be held in February.
Newsweek has reached out to the Montana Republican party via email for comment.
In a post on X on Tuesday, the Montana Freedom Caucus said, "When you publicly attack one of Montana's best, you should not be invited to speak to the Montana GOP," sharing a previous statement condemning the Montana Republican Party for inviting Bruesewitz to speak.
"Alex has publicly attacked Congressman Matt Rosendale, and his actions should not be rewarded with a speaking opportunity. Congressman Matt Rosendale deserves an apology from the Montana GOP and the opportunity to speak in his place," said Senator Theresa Manzella and chair of the Montana Freedom Caucus.
Bruesewitz has been critical of Rosendale on X, as he has previously referred to the Republican congressman as a MAGA "poser" funded by the Democrats based on Rosendale's perceived "disloyalty" to Donald Trump.
In response to being dropped, Bruesewitz criticized the way Rosendale handled the situation, telling Newsweek via phone the Republican congressman has a "real problem" against Trump's MAGA movement.
"Mark Rosendale is a coward who can't face criticism and instead of dealing with it like a man, he decided to pull leftists style cancel culture tactic and get me canceled from my speaking event and it goes to show how little confidence he has in his own reputation in the state. He's got a real problem against the MAGA movement because he tries to say he's MAGA, but at the end of the day he has a history of supporting amnesty," Bruesewitz told Newsweek.
Meanwhile, in addition to Donald Trump Jr.'s support, others have called attention to Bruesewitz's canceled speech on X.
Republican Senator of Tennessee, Marsha Blackburn said, "Very disappointed to hear that @MTGOP canceled @alexbruesewitz 's speech at the Montana GOP convention. In order to defeat Joe Biden, the Republican Party must unify – not fight amongst ourselves."
Republican and former advisor to Trump, Kimberly Guilfoyle wrote on X, "What's happening in Montana?They canceled @alexbruesewitz speech over some criticism of Matt Rosendale? I hope the @MTGOP reverses course and allows Alex to spread the America First message to the great folks of Montana!"
This comes as Rosendale is expected to officially announce his Senate run and join Tim Sheehy, an ex-Navy SEAL and aerospace millionaire, in the primary in March.
Republicans are eyeing Democrat senator John Tester's seat as a top pickup opportunity in 2024.
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Natalie Venegas is a Weekend Reporter at Newsweek based in New York. Her focus is reporting on education, social justice ... Read more
