Liberal Underdog Attempts Trump Impression During Interview
Former CNN anchor Jim Acosta hosted Tennessee state lawmaker Aftyn Behn on his online programme, where the longshot liberal congressional candidate made headlines by attempting an impression of former President Donald Trump. The conversation took place as Behn faces a challenging special election for Tennessee's seventh congressional district.
Controversial Comments and Political Context
The interview took a notable turn when Acosta addressed recently resurfaced comments from Behn, aged 36, that showed her supporting the 'defund the police' movement and expressing hatred for Nashville, the city she seeks to represent. Acosta described these remarks as being 'from a past time' and 'taken out of context' before shifting focus to the Trump administration's support for her Republican opponent.
Behn discussed Trump's recent 'tele-rally' for her rival, former Tennessee Department of General Services Commissioner Matt Van Epps, who remains the favourite for the House seat. 'I was hoping he'd say something like, "She is way less cute than my daughter Ivanka. She's not a real blonde!"' Behn remarked before attempting her impression, which Acosta described as 'a good Trump' despite Behn herself admitting the attempt wasn't particularly funny.
Tightening Race Brings High-Profile Support
The special election, scheduled for next week following Republican Representative Mark Green's resignation in July, has unexpectedly become competitive. Behn claimed the administration was 'bringing in the big dogs because Trump can't afford to lose another district', noting that Vice President JD Vance is scheduled to visit servicemen at Fort Campbell near the Kentucky border.
Recent polling data from Emerson College Polling/The Hill confirms the race has tightened significantly. The survey shows Van Epps with 48 percent support to Behn's 46 percent, indicating a much closer contest than initially anticipated.
Behn's campaign continues to face scrutiny over various resurfaced statements, including her description of Nashville: 'I hate the city, I hate the bachelorettes, I hate the pedal taverns, I hate country music'. Additional controversial comments include calling sororities 'a staple of white supremacy', branding Tennessee a 'racist state', and previously advocating for the abolition of the Metro Nashville Police Department in since-deleted social media posts.
