Officials with U.S. Senate candidate Bill Hagerty’s campaign on Friday reiterated that Hagerty will push for President Donald Trump’s agenda, even if a national organization that opposes some of Trump’s immigration policies want Hagerty in office.
As The Tennessee Star reported this week, the United States Chamber of Commerce, the world’s largest business federation representing the interests of more than three million businesses and organizations, endorsed Hagerty.
Trump wants a border wall stretching the entire length of the United States-Mexico border. U.S. Chamber of Commerce officials, however, have views on this that do not align with Trump’s.
The Star asked Hagerty’s campaign for a comment.
Hagerty campaign spokeswoman Abigail Sigler provided an emailed statement Friday.
“Bill Hagerty has earned the President’s trust and seal of approval five times. First as Donald Trump’s Tennessee Victory Chair, then serving as a senior leader of the Trump transition team, next he was tapped as President Trump’s Ambassador to Japan, then receiving President Trump’s complete and total endorsement for U.S. Senate and most recently, the President personally asked Bill to rejoin the Administration and serve on the Great American Economic Revival Industry Groups,” Sigler said.
“Bill will work closely with President Trump and Senator Marsha Blackburn – who was also endorsed by the Chamber – to rebuild our economy, stand up to China, stop illegal immigration, build the wall, protect the unborn, defend our Second Amendment rights, and restore law and order. ”
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce endorsed the candidacy of now-U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) when she ran for the office in 2018, according to The Tennessean that year.
U.S. Chamber of Commerce officials, on their website, say a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border “would hardly solve all our immigration problems.”
As reported, Chamber officials said they endorsed Hagerty because of his business background.
U.S. Chamber CEO Thomas J. Donohue said it’s important to have leaders who understand the American system of government and free enterprise.
“As our country faces many challenges and is collectively working to not just reopen our economy, but return to growth and expanded opportunities for all Americans, we need leaders like former U.S. Ambassador Bill Hagerty,” Donohue said.
“He has a proven track record of leading responsibly and standing up for good policies. The U.S. Chamber is proud to endorse Ambassador Hagerty and looks forward to partnering with him in the future.”
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Chris Butler is an investigative journalist at The Tennessee Star. Follow Chris on Facebook. Email tips to [email protected].
Background Photo “U.S. Chamber of Commerce Building” by AgnosticPreachersKid. CC BY-SA 3.0.
Yeah, right. Sure he will!
If Hagerty gets elected, in 4+ years we’ll have to dust off and retool our “Beat Lamar” tee shirts, and pull Joe out of retirement!
Endorsement = leverage? I guess we will see.