Las Vegas – A former Trump administration official running for U.S. Senate in the key battleground state of Nevada fired back Monday after failing to receive a major endorsement from his former boss.
Dr. Jeffrey Gunter, who served as U.S. ambassador to Iceland, had hoped to win former President Trump’s endorsement in his campaign to swing Nevada to the Republican Party, but that honor went late Sunday to his primary opponent, former U.S. Army Captain Sam Brown.
Both candidates and their respective allies close to Trump have been fighting behind the scenes for weeks to win the former president’s endorsement.
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Dermatologist and former U.S. Ambassador to Iceland Dr. Jeffrey Gunter, former President Trump, and former U.S. Army Captain Sam Brown (State Department | Getty Images | Rep. Sam Brown, R-Nevada)
“Mitch McConnell’s money wins and the American people lose — and this cycle continues,” Gunter told Fox News Digital after the endorsement was reported — an apparent criticism of national Republicans who have staunchly supported Brown’s candidacy.
Gunter then claimed in a post on X early Monday that the endorsement came down to a “big check”, which the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) dismissed as a “baseless” attack on Trump.
“California Democrat Jeff Gunter is totally upset by President Trump’s endorsement of war hero Sam Brown. Gunter has falsely disparaged President Trump on Twitter and sounds more like Adam Schiff than a conservative,” NRSC communications director Mike Berg told Fox.
A source close to Trump slammed Gunter for accusing the former president of “pay-to-play” and called for him to remove the post.
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“I have never criticized President Trump and will always support him 110 percent. Meanwhile, his ‘top advisors’ have some explaining to do,” Gunter said. Reply in another post.
Fox News Digital interviewed Gunter hours before Trump announced his endorsement of Brown on Truth Social, and he expressed confidence heading into Tuesday’s primary and said internal polls show he’s tied or leading Brown.
“Word on the street is we’re on track, we’re very excited, we’re working hard,” Gunter said, “so we’re very optimistic that as true Trump supporters, 110% and MAGA candidates, we can Make Nevada Great Again.”
Brown’s campaign also cites internal polling that shows Brown holding a large lead over Gunter, and Gunter argues that Brown is the only candidate who can beat incumbent Democratic Sen. Jacky Rosen in the general election.
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Former Icelandic ambassador Jeff Gunter is running for U.S. Senate in Nevada as a Republican. (Senator Jeff Gunter)
Gunter cited polls showing Rosen leading Brown, but a New York Times poll released last month showed Brown and Rosen tied at 41 percent approval each, with the numbers still to be determined. There has been little independent polling of the hypothetical Gunter-Rosen matchup.
“I’m a true MAGA candidate… If you like Mitch McConnell and Nikki Haley, you might like Sam Brown,” Gunter said, “But if you love America First, if you love Donald Trump, I worked for him, I was his U.S. ambassador, and I stand by what I believe in. I’m on your side. And that’s why we’re gaining so much momentum and doing so well in the great state of Nevada.”
Gunter said his experience as an ambassador and doctor, and his “loyalty” to Trump, are things undecided voters should consider as they head to the polls.
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Fox News Digital made multiple attempts to interview Brown ahead of Tuesday’s primary, but as of publication, Brown’s campaign had not committed to making him available for an interview.
Rosen is expected to win Tuesday’s primary easily and will face off against either Brown or Gunter in the general election.
Republicans see Nevada as one of their biggest opportunities for flips as they try to retake control of the Senate from Democrats, who currently hold a slim 51-49 majority.
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