President Trump announced Wednesday that Montana would be the home of a new Defense Department “super range” to test advanced weapons and technology during a rally promoting Aaron Flint, who is running to represent the Big Sky state in the House.
“Montana will help ensure the American military always reigns supreme,” Mr. Trump told the crowd at the Majestic Valley Arena in Kalispell.
The president said the technologies tested would include “potential autonomous weapons, space and electronic warfare technology, supersonics and hypersonics.”
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He joked that Sen. Tim Sheehy, Montana Republican, pestered him until Montana won the super range.
“You’re getting it, now leave me alone,” Mr. Trump told Mr. Sheehy.
The president touted his Second Amendment bona fides at the rally, urging rallygoers to vote Republican in the midterm election to protect their gun rights. He joked that some of their local wildlife will attack Montana residents if they don’t have guns.
“If the Democrat communists win, they will pack the Supreme Court with radical Marxists. Take your guns away,” Mr. Trump said. “How would you like to live up here without guns?”
“You know, would love that to happen? Some of the wild animals you have up here that like eating you,” he joked.
Mr. Trump said the Second Amendment “is under siege,” but it will be “totally protected” by Republicans in Washington.
“Nobody has fought for the Second Amendment like me,” he said.
Mr. Trump urged attendees to support Mr. Flint, a former aide to retiring Republican Rep. Ryan Zinke, who served as Interior Secretary in Mr. Trump’s first administration.
An Army veteran and talk radio host, Mr. Flint has made blasting progressive politicians such as Sen. Bernie Sanders, Vermont Independent, and New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani the centerpiece of his campaign.
Mr. Flint is opposed by Sam Forstag, a Democratic labor union leader and Forest Service firefighter, who fought fires by jumping into them by aircraft. Mr. Forstag has also positioned himself as a gun rights champion, knowing it is a critical issue to Montana voters.
The two candidates are locked in Montana’s Western District House race. A Montana Free Press Rutgers Eagleton poll found that Mr. Flint has 42% of the vote, while Mr. Forstag drew 41% of the vote. Nick Sheedy, a Libertarian candidate, has 5% of the vote.
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