Trump’s drive to oust Tester traces back to the lawmaker’s work in 2018 as chairman of the Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. Tester revealed past misconduct by Trump’s former White House physician, Ronny Jackson, that sank Jackson’s nomination to lead the Veterans Affairs Department. A scathing report by the Department of Defense inspector general later substantiated allegations including that Jackson violated the policy on drinking alcohol on a presidential trip.

Several hours before former President Donald Trump was set to begin speaking at a Friday night rally in Bozeman, the crowds were already building outside Brick Breeden Fieldhouse. Republican leaders hope that energy will carry on into the November election. “It’ll be a hell of a party,” said Tim Sheehy, the Republican nominee for one of Montana’s two U.S. Senate seats.

“One of the most sinister accomplices in Kamala’s plot to demolish American Borders has been her ally, that partner in the U.S. Senate, one of the biggest phonies in American politics. His name is Jon Tester,” Trump said. “And I don’t speak badly about somebody’s physical disability, but he’s got the biggest stomach I have ever seen. That’s the biggest stomach; I have never seen a stomach like that, because he doesn’t look that heavy.”