Sam Brown, a retired Army captain and current Republican frontrunner for the Nevada Senate nomination, has touted his MAGA credentials, pushed conspiracy theories about the 2020 presidential election and proclaimed former President Donald Trump's criminal trial and conviction a "sham." But when confronted Tuesday by a reporter about his remarks, Brown wouldn't elaborate on how the trial was a sham — and simply changed the subject to his get-out-the-vote effort.
The statement garnered scorn on social media from anti-Trump voters — and drew anger from pro-Trump voters enraged that he didn't do more to defend the former president right then and there.
"Holy s---," wrote Jeff Gunter, Trump's former ambassador to Iceland and Senate primary rival to Brown, who has been upset over Trump's endorsement of Brown over himself. "Scam Brown was just asked about the corrupt lawfare against President Trump and refused to comment!! Total McConnell swamp RINO."
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"Wow. This is so bad," agreed Laura Loomer, a far-right activist, failed congressional candidate, and self-proclaimed "proud Islamophobe" who has close ties to Trump.
"Have to ask DJT how's that taste now.....he endorsed the wrong guy," wrote the account @J4MES_FJB.
"What was DJT thinking," wrote the account @Pepper4820. "Unacceptable response!"
"I smell a RINO!" wrote the account @VickieHawkins13. "President needs to be more careful about endorsements! MAGA ONLY!"
Nevada, currently represented by Sen. Jacky Rosen, is one of several Democratic-held seats Republicans hope to target in November. The state is perpetually close in electoral contests, but despite occasional wins like the gubernatorial contest in 2022, Republicans have broadly struggled in the state, in part because Democrats have strong ties to labor organizers in Las Vegas and a robust ground operation.
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