NASHVILLE - When President Donald Trump came to Tennessee on Friday to tour tornado-devastated areas that left at least 24 Tennesseans dead this week, Gov. Bill Lee and Nashville Mayor John Cooper were there to greet him at the city's airport.
But there was one person who also shared tarmac time with the president. He isn't an elected official. But Republican Bill Hagerty, Trump's former U.S. ambassador to Japan, hopes to become one as he runs with Trump's endorsement in the contested Aug. 6 Republican U.S. Senate primary with Nashville physician Manny Sethi.
It was quickly noted by local news organizations with a Tennessean reporter tweeting "@realDonald Trump arrived in Nashville this morning and was greeted by @GovBillLee @BillHagertyTN" along with a photo of the president and his former ambassador shaking hands with Trump speaking to him.
A WPLN reporter noted "Trump didn't speak to pool press nor local press when he arrived. He talked to Gov. Lee, Mayor Cooper and talked the most with U.S. Senate candidate @BillHagertyTN."
Hagerty's campaign retweeted both reporters' tweets.
President Donald Trump speaks with Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee and First Lady Maria Lee as Trump arrives to view tornado damage, Friday, March 6, 2020, in Nashville, Tenn. At right are Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn., and Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)That, in turn, drew an observation about Hagerty from Jordan Gehrke, who had been a top adviser to then-political underdog Lee's successful 2018 campaign and is now working for Sethi.
"Here's Bill Hagerty tweeting tornado coverage with himself in it," Gehrke observed in a tweet. "Where most Tennesseans see a great tragedy this week, Bill Hagerty just sees a political opportunity. Hagerty & his brain @WardBaker should know better. Families are grieving right now."
Hagerty spokeswoman Abbi Siegler said in an email that "Bill was invited by the President. He thanked President Trump for coming to Tennessee and for taking swift action to help Tennesseans impacted by the tornadoes."
In his own statement, Sethi made no mention of Hagerty and thanked Trump "for showing your compassion to our state and to the victims of this disaster.
"This is the Volunteer State, and in the past few days we have seen Tennesseans come together to help one another," Sethi added. "Our President is with us today, and we are grateful."
Hagerty stated in his own tweet he was "Grateful for President @realDonaldTrump not only approving the Tennessee Disaster Relief Declaration so quickly, but for also coming to our state to see the damage and speak with those affected personally.
"We are proud to call him our President," he added.
President Donald Trump speaks Mike Herrick, with Putnam County Rescue Squad, as he tours damage from a recent tornado, Friday, March 6, 2020, in Cookeville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
A video of a Super Tuesday election watch party in Knoxville this week shows Hagerty telling the crowd "I've been on the phone three times today with the White House. We made arrangements for President Trump to come here to Tennessee. He's gonna be here on Friday to show his empathy and respect for everybody and making sure we get the appropriate relief to the people who have been injured. I also want to say I very much appreciate President Trump's complete and total endorsement."
Hagerty worked on Trump's 2016 campaign, as well as the president-elect's transition team. Trump later named him as ambassador, and the two are said to have a good personal relationship.
After U.S. Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn., announced he would not seek re-election and Hagerty's former boss, former Gov. Bill Haslam announced he would not run, Hagerty was seen as a likely candidate. But before Hagerty could begin the formal process of leaving his ambassador post, Trump announced Hagerty would run and gave him his full-throated endorsement.
Trump's son, Donald Trump Jr., and former U.S. ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley are among surrogates who have come to Tennessee on behalf of Hagerty, who is said to have close ties with Trump's children as well as the president.
Contact Andy Sher at asher@timesfreepress.com or 615-255-0550. Follow him on Twitter @AndySher1.