Mobile Billboard Exposes Trump's Past Criticisms of David McCormick at Lancaster Event

Photo byDemocratic Party of Pennsylvania

As David McCormick campaigns alongside Trump in Pennsylvania, a mobile billboard recalls Trump's past accusations against the former hedge fund CEO.

A Billboard Bombshell at Trump-McCormick Event

LANCASTER, PA — At a campaign event in Pennsylvania today, David McCormick’s past came back to haunt him in the form of a mobile billboard truck. As McCormick, the former CEO of Connecticut-based hedge fund Bridgewater Associates, attended a rally alongside Donald Trump, the mobile billboard circled the event, displaying a stark message: “Trump said David McCormick is ‘the candidate of special interests’, ‘managed money for communist China.’” The spectacle underscored the complex and often contradictory relationship between McCormick and Trump, highlighting key criticisms Trump made during the 2022 Pennsylvania Senate race.

Trump’s Damning Accusations Against McCormick Resurface

Despite McCormick’s vigorous efforts to secure Trump's endorsement in his 2022 Senate bid, Trump publicly rebuked him, choosing instead to back TV personality Dr. Mehmet Oz. Trump’s remarks, which labeled McCormick as the “candidate of special interests and globalists” who “managed money for communist China,” were once again thrust into the spotlight by the billboard truck at today’s event.

Pennsylvania Democratic Party spokesperson TaNisha Cameron seized on the moment, issuing a pointed statement: “David McCormick has such a disastrous record of prioritizing China and his own bottom line, that even Donald Trump called him out about it. He has invested millions of dollars in Chinese military companies, managed billions of dollars for the Chinese government, and increased his hedge fund’s investments in China by 108,000%. Pennsylvanians can’t trust him to be for them.”

McCormick’s China Ties: A Source of Controversy

McCormick’s tenure at Bridgewater has been a focal point for critics, particularly regarding the firm’s significant investments in China. Under McCormick’s leadership, Bridgewater’s investments in Chinese entities ballooned from $1.6 million to over $1.77 billion in under five years, marking a staggering 108,000% increase. This surge included investments in companies blacklisted by the U.S. government for their involvement with the Chinese military-industrial complex and human rights abuses.

The controversy deepens as these investments included companies tied to the development of advanced military hardware for the Chinese military, such as fighter jets, bombers, and radar-jamming planes. Such associations have drawn ire from across the political spectrum, particularly given ongoing geopolitical tensions and concerns over China’s global ambitions.

Trump’s Endorsement Strategy and Its Implications

The renewed attention on Trump’s past criticisms of McCormick raises questions about the consistency of Trump’s endorsement strategy. While Trump’s backing of Dr. Oz in 2022 was a high-profile move that undermined McCormick’s Senate campaign, his current association with McCormick suggests a pragmatic, if inconsistent, approach to alliances. As Trump rallies for support in Pennsylvania—a key battleground state—his willingness to campaign alongside McCormick despite prior criticisms underscores the fluid nature of political endorsements in the Trump era.

A Divided Political Landscape in Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania remains a fiercely contested state, with high stakes for both parties as they maneuver towards the 2024 elections. McCormick’s resurfacing ties to China, coupled with Trump’s previously harsh words, could prove a stumbling block in McCormick’s political ambitions. For Trump, the reemergence of his own criticisms may complicate his efforts to unify his base around a cohesive message.

The mobile billboard, while a dramatic and pointed tactic, reflects broader tensions within the Republican Party and highlights the challenges McCormick faces in reconciling his Wall Street past with the populist rhetoric that has become a hallmark of Trump’s political brand. As McCormick navigates his campaign, the juxtaposition of his corporate background against Trump's nationalist platform will likely remain a contentious point of scrutiny.

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