Trump-Backed Clayton Fuller Faces Scrutiny Over Past Anti-Gun Ties and Campaign Omissions

Clayton Fuller, the Trump-backed candidate vying to replace Marjorie Taylor Greene in Georgia's 14th Congressional District, is facing fresh scrutiny over his past financial ties to anti-gun and pro-Democrat causes. Federal Election Commission records reveal that Fuller's first political donation, made in 2017, went to James Mackler, a former Democratic Senate candidate in Tennessee. Mackler, a US Army veteran and lawyer, once aligned with the anti-gun group Giffords, where he was dubbed a 'gun safety champion' during their 2020 campaign for universal background checks.

Fuller's campaign website, which prominently touts his Trump endorsement, conspicuously omits any mention of guns or the Second Amendment. The NRA has assigned him an AQ rating, a designation for candidates who complete the organization's survey in the affirmative but lack a voting record. This omission has raised eyebrows among conservative voters who view the issue as central to their platform.

Fuller is not a stranger to political battles. In 2020, he ran for the US House under the banner of the With Honor Fund, a group backed by Emma Bloomberg, daughter of former New York City Mayor Mike Bloomberg. The With Honor PAC contributed $5,000 to Fuller's campaign, a fact that critics argue underscores his inconsistent alignment with traditional Republican values. Bloomberg, a major funder of anti-gun groups like Everytown and Moms Demand Action, has long been a thorn in the side of gun rights advocates.

President Trump's endorsement of Fuller has proven confusing. On Air Force One earlier this month, the president mused, 'We have a lot of people that want to take Marjorie 'traitor' Greene's place. Many, many candidates, and I have to choose one.' His comments contrasted with his February 4 endorsement, where he called Fuller an 'America First Patriot.' The White House has not clarified whether the endorsement was rescinded or if the president made a slip of the tongue.

Complicating matters further, Fuller's campaign is reportedly being managed by Brandon Phillips, the former chief of staff to Georgia Congressman Mike Collins. Phillips, who resigned from Trump's 2016 campaign in Georgia after his criminal history surfaced, faces a cloud over his reputation. In 2022, he was arrested for animal cruelty after allegedly kicking a dog. Though he later served as Collins' chief of staff, he was removed from that role last month and now holds a lesser title as a senior policy adviser.

The Daily Mail has pressed both Phillips and Fuller's campaign for details about their relationship, but neither has responded to requests for comment. Meanwhile, political operatives in Georgia have expressed skepticism about Fuller's leadership, citing Phillips' controversial past.

With the special election set for March 10, voters are left to weigh Fuller's history against his current promises. Taylor Greene, who will step down on January 5, has said she trusts Georgians to choose their next representative. But as the race heats up, questions about Fuller's past—and whether he aligns with Trump's vision for America—will dominate the headlines.

'This is a test of loyalty,' said one Republican strategist, who spoke on condition of anonymity. 'If Fuller's past is dragged into the light, it could cost him the race.' The same strategist noted that Trump's endorsement, while powerful, is not a guarantee of victory. 'Voters are watching closely,' they added. 'And they're not blind to history.'