How Vance is exerting his influence in a key swing state race

In what appears to be a first, Donald Trump has endorsed both front-liner Republicans in an Arizona House primary where they are running against each other. 'They will both be spectacular, and I’m pleased to announce that both Blake Masters and Abe Hamadeh have my Complete and Total Endorsement to be the next Congressman of Arizona’s 8th Congressional District — THEY WILL NOT LET YOU DOWN!' Trump wrote on Truth Social on Sunday.

Trump and his VP pick Sen. J.D. Vance had previously found themselves on opposite sides in the contentious Arizona primary. Trump originally endorsed Hamadeh (pictured) while Vance has always backed Masters. Hamadeh and Masters have become bitter rivals since running, both unsuccessfully, on the same ticket in 2022 - Hamadeh for attorney general and Masters for Senate.

Trump ordered Masters not to run for Senate again this time to make way for Kari Lake, and he complied. Masters instead focused on the House race for the eighth district - and Trump this time threw his weight against him before Sunday's switchup. 'Blake Masters is a very successful businessman, and an incredibly strong supporter of our Movement to Make America Great Again - He is smart and tough! Likewise, Abe Hamadeh, a Veteran, former prosecutor, and fearless fighter for Election Integrity, has been with me all the way!' Trump said.

The endorsement came just after Trump hailed cryptocurrencies at the Bitcoin Conference in Nashville, Tenn. Vance has a rally in the Arizona district on Wednesday one day after the primary. One source familiar with the race questioned whether Trump was afraid of Vance's political sway winning out over his own.

Vance and Masters share a connection through billionaire PayPal co-founder Peter Thiel. Masters (pictured) served as Thiel Capital's COO until 2022 when he resigned to focus on the Senate bid. But FEC disclosures show just last year Thiel paid Masters an eye-watering $25 million as a bonus. The form says the payment was part of a five-year plan agreed to in 2018. Thiel, who donated $10 million to Masters' unsuccessful Senate bid in 2022, swore off political donations this cycle.

Trump reportedly called him a '[expletive] scumbag' to Masters after the ex-president called Thiel to ask him to give $10 million to his 2024 campaign. Thiel, meanwhile, served as a mentor to Vance, a backer of his venture capital firm, donated over $15 million to his Senate race and helped him secure other high-dollar donors.

While he's not yet committed any more money this cycle, Thiel appears to be warming to the Trump ticket. Masters has stirred controversy by leaning into Vance's 'childless cat lady' comments. 'Political leaders should have children. Certainly they should at least be married,' Masters wrote on X. 'If you aren’t running or can’t run a household of your own, how can you relate to a constituency of families, or govern wisely with respect to future generations? Skin in the game matters.'

Masters has directed the same criticism at Hamadeh, who is single, contrasting that with Masters himself who has a 'wonderful wife and four beautiful boys.' Vance told Tucker Carlson in a 2021 interview the U.S. is run 'via the Democrats, via our corporate oligarchs—by a bunch of childless cat ladies.' Masters has also attacked Hamadeh for being the child of Syrian immigrants and being Muslim.

'Dishonest Abe supported Chuck Schumer's amnesty bill, maybe because Abe's parents were illegal immigrants,' a Masters (pictured) advertisement said. 'Dishonest Abe said women have the right to abort their babies. Dishonest Abe supported cuts to Social Security, Medicare and the military. Dishonest Abe said America was founded on Islamic principles. He even said Israel was behind 9/11.' The video features shots of Hamadeh with minarets around him, in Mecca wearing an Ihram.

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