Bill Hagerty, a candidate for the U.S. Senate, joined other Republican congressional candidates speaking at a meeting of the Washington County Federated Republican Women on Monday in praising President Donald Trump and warning of a wave of socialism sweeping the nation.
Hagerty, who is one of 15 Republicans on the Aug. 6 ballot vying to succeed retiring U.S. Sen Lamar Alexander, told Republicans at the Carnegie Hotel in Johnson City he believes “America is at a crossroads.” The former ambassador to Japan noted that he has been endorsed in the race by the president, and said that “Trump needs an ally more than ever” in the Congress.
He told the partisan crowd that after the president delivered “an inspiring speech” at Mount Rushmore over the Fourth of July weekend, “an angry mob burned the flag” in front of the Whited House. Hagerty said the “Democratic response” to such protests have been to defund the police.
“That’s the most absurd thing I’ve ever heard,” he said.