After Trump Endorses Opponent, David Matthews Says President “Owes Me Nothing” and Campaign Will Continue

From the Matthews campaign

June 23

OZARK, Ala. — David Matthews, a Republican candidate for Alabama’s 2nd Congressional District and former official in both Trump administrations, released a personal video response after President Donald J. Trump endorsed State Rep. Rhett Marques in the Aug. 11 Republican special primary.

Matthews did not criticize the president or question his decision. Instead, he reflected on how Trump’s 2016 campaign altered the trajectory of his life, leading him into public service and ultimately bringing him a wife, five children, and a continued calling to serve.

“President Trump owes me nothing,” Matthews said. “He does not owe me an endorsement. He does not owe me a favor. I owe him gratitude. His decision to run for president changed my life, changed my family’s life, and gave me opportunities to serve this country that I never could have imagined.”

In the video, Matthews recounted watching Trump announce his initial campaign in 2015 and later joining the effort as an unpaid field representative in Wisconsin. He went on to work as the Western Pennsylvania Field Director during the 2016 campaign. Matthews stated that the experience did more than shape his political beliefs—it changed the future of his family.

“Because Donald Trump chose to run, I met my wife, Emily,” Matthews said. “Today we have five beautiful children. I would not have the life I have now if he had not stepped forward when he did. That is why this moment is not about bitterness. It is about gratitude, humility, and keeping my word.”

Matthews subsequently served in the first Trump administration and returned to public service during the second Trump administration at the U.S. Department of Agriculture. He resigned from a position he loved and returned home to Ozark after deciding to seek the congressional seat.

“I never planned to run for office,” Matthews said. “For years, my answer was simple, if God opened the door and made the path clear, I would step onto it. On May 20th, that door opened. Emily and I prayed about it and stepped on that path. Today’s news does not change that.”

The Aug. 11 Republican special primary will be decided without a runoff. The Republican nominee will advance to the Nov. 3 general election.

Matthews said he will continue making the case that Alabama’s 2nd District needs conservative representation grounded in local knowledge, executive-branch experience, and an understanding of how to make the federal government work better for the people it serves.

“This campaign has never been about entitlement,” Matthews said. “It is about service. It is about the people of the Wiregrass, the River Region, and the rural communities across this district. I am grateful for President Trump, I respect him, and I am staying in this race because I believe this is the path God opened.”

About David Matthews

David Matthews is an Ozark native and Republican candidate for Alabama’s 2nd Congressional District. He served in both Trump administrations, including at the U.S. Department of Agriculture, where his work focused on agriculture, rural development, federal operations, and the delivery of federal programs to communities nationwide. Matthews and his wife, Emily, are raising their five children in Ozark.

For more information on Matthews and his campaign, visit https://davidmatthewsforcongress.com.

Matthew’s video response may be seen on YouTube and below: