President Donald Trump has endorsed former video game composer Marty O’Donnell in his campaign for Nevada’s 3rd Congressional District, according to kotaku.com.
O’Donnell, known for composing soundtracks for Halo: Combat Evolved and Destiny, announced the support via Truth Social on April 14. The president described O'Donnell as an "America First Patriot."
“It is my Great Honor to endorse America First Patriot, Marty O’Donnell, who is running to represent the incredible people of Nevada’s 3rd Congressional District,” Trump posted. He added that O’Donnell has his "Complete and Total Endorsement."
This endorsement marks a significant shift in the relationship between the candidate and the former president. During the 2016 Republican primary, O’Donnell used Twitter to call Trump an "idiot," according to the report.
O’Donnell also previously expressed a preference for conservative intellectuals like Milton Friedman over the MAGA movement. He is now running against incumbent Democrat Susie Lee.
A campaign of video game metaphors
Trump attacked Lee as a “Radical Left Extremist” during the endorsement announcement. He pledged that O’Donnell would support administration goals regarding tax cuts and immigration.
O’Donnell has already integrated gaming imagery into his political rhetoric. Last fall, the Trump White House used a Halo-themed meme to discuss immigration, comparing undocumented immigrants to the series' parasitic "Flood" aliens.
O'Donnell leaned into the metaphor in a social media post, stating, “When I defeat Susie Lee next year and get to Congress, I will work with the Trump administration to destroy the Flood once and for all!”
This is not O'Donnell's first attempt at office. He finished fourth in the Republican primary during the 2024 election cycle, kotaku.com reported.
In his recent announcement, O’Donnell stated he is running as a grandfather concerned for the future. “I’m not going to DC for fame or money. I’m going because I’m a grandfather who deeply cares about what type of country his grandchildren will grow up in,” he wrote.