In a political twist that has Nevada’s Republican primary buzzing, former President Donald Trump has thrown his complete support behind Marty O’Donnell, the acclaimed video game composer best known for creating the iconic soundtracks to the Halo series. The endorsement, announced April 14, comes despite O’Donnell’s well-documented history of harsh criticism of Trump, including calling him an “idiot” and stating he “loathed Trump” during the 2016 election cycle.
“Marty O’Donnell is a World-Class Composer and Entrepreneur who knows the America First Policies required to Create GREAT Jobs, Cut Taxes and Regulations, Promote NO TAX ON TIPS, Advance MADE IN THE U.S.A., and Champion our Nation’s Golden Age,” Trump posted on Truth Social. “Marty O’Donnell has my Complete and Total Endorsement to be the next Representative from Nevada’s 3rd Congressional District — HE WILL NOT LET YOU DOWN!”
The endorsement represents a remarkable political transformation for O’Donnell, who at 70 is making his second run for Congress in Nevada’s competitive 3rd District. In 2016, as Trump was battling the political establishment, O’Donnell wasn’t standing with the future president—he was actively encouraging his sizable fanbase to abandon both major candidates. “The cool thing about elections in the US is that if you don’t like any of the candidates you can write in the name of someone you DO like,” O’Donnell posted during the height of the 2016 presidential race.
His criticism didn’t stop there. In February 2016, O’Donnell flatly declared, “Donald Trump is an idiot. Period.” By November 2017, after Trump had already won and begun implementing his agenda, O’Donnell doubled down, posting: “Loathe Trump and absolutely abhor the Clintons. Tolerate Ron and Rand Paul.” Even after Trump took office, O’Donnell went out of his way to distance himself, writing in November 2018: “Don’t conflate me with Trump.”
Today, O’Donnell says he voted for Trump twice and plans to do so again. He has described Trump’s first term as “surprisingly effective” and welcomed the president’s endorsement. “I am truly honored to have the support of President Donald J. Trump!” O’Donnell tweeted following the announcement. “The stakes this midterm could not be higher. That’s why when I started running, I promised I would drop out unless President Trump supported me so that Republicans could avoid wasting resources on a needless…”
That pledge to withdraw from the race without Trump’s backing has drawn particular scrutiny from conservative circles. O’Donnell had previously stated he would drop out of the 2026 race if Trump didn’t endorse him, a promise that critics say reveals his opportunistic approach to aligning with the MAGA movement.
The endorsement has also exposed potential policy contradictions. Leaked audio from a 2024 UNLV College Republicans meeting reveals O’Donnell admitted he would “probably do nothing” in Congress to stop biological males from competing in women’s sports—an issue President Trump has repeatedly called common sense and non-negotiable. That position alone places O’Donnell squarely outside the mainstream MAGA movement on what many conservatives consider a core issue.
O’Donnell’s political evolution extends beyond Trump. In July 2012, he appeared to support Barack Obama’s tax hikes, posting: “Another tax hike. Ok, it’s about time we all paid our fair share.” Critics point to this as evidence that O’Donnell’s conservative credentials are recent and potentially inauthentic.
Even O’Donnell’s political spending raises questions. Despite amassing significant wealth from gaming royalties and legal settlements, Federal Election Commission records show O’Donnell gave nothing to President Trump’s campaigns in 2016, 2020, or 2024, when Trump actually needed support. Only after Trump won did O’Donnell open his wallet, cutting a $50,000 check to the 2025 Trump–Vance Inaugural Committee.
“No loyalty during the fight, just a check once victory was secured,” said one GOP strategist who requested anonymity. “This is some straight-up opportunistic garbage from Marty, who has always hated Trump.”
The National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) has embraced O’Donnell despite his past, with spokesman Christian Martinez stating, “Marty O’Donnell is the outsider, America First fighter Nevada families need. Out of touch Democrat Susie Lee voted against No Tax on Tips, backed policies that drive up costs, and has been a reliable vote for the far-left radical agenda. O’Donnell is ready to flip this seat and deliver leadership that finally puts Nevada workers first.”
O’Donnell’s campaign has leaned heavily on his gaming industry background, which he argues makes him uniquely qualified for public service. In the 2024 race, he declared that Congress would be “a walk in the park compared to making Halo 2,” and has tempted supporters to his meet-and-greets with pledges to “sign any Halo merch that you bring!”
His political philosophy, he says, can be summed up by the story of the Goose that Laid the Golden Egg. “My view of government can be summed up by the story of the Goose that Laid the Golden Egg,” O’Donnell posted on social media following the endorsement. “Government should be a champion for families rather than an obstacle.”
O’Donnell faces competition in the June 9 Republican primary from Tera Anderson, Jeff Gunter, and Aury Nagy, all of whom have also sought to associate themselves with Trump in voters’ minds. “Like President Trump, she’s not a career politician,” reads Anderson’s pitch. “110% PRO-TRUMP,” declares Gunter’s website. “President Trump is fighting for common sense… and so am I,” said Nagy in a recent Instagram post.
The winner of the Republican primary will face incumbent Democrat Susie Lee in a closely watched battleground race. Trump has denounced Lee as a “true Radical Left Extremist” who supports “Transgender for Everyone.”
According to the Cook Political Report, Nevada’s 3rd Congressional District is currently rated as D+1, indicating a narrow advantage for Democrats. The District includes portions of Southern Nevada and is historically a battleground seat, drawing national attention during election cycles.
O’Donnell’s journey from composing some of the most memorable music in gaming to pursuing a seat in Congress continues to attract attention. His background includes working as a musician, composer, and audio director, with a bachelor’s degree from Wheaton College (1977) and a graduate degree from the University of Southern California (1981).
The question for Nevada Republicans is whether O’Donnell’s combination of cultural conservatism, recent Trump alignment, and outsider status outweighs concerns about his thin political résumé and past statements. With the primary just weeks away, voters will determine whether O’Donnell’s transformation from Trump critic to Trump-endorsed candidate represents genuine political evolution or calculated opportunism.
For now, O’Donnell is embracing his new role as the Trump-endorsed candidate. “But now, I’m the TRUMP-ENDORSED candidate for Congress in Nevada’s 3rd District,” he posted on social media following the announcement.
Whether that endorsement will be enough to secure him the Republican nomination, and ultimately the congressional seat, remains to be seen. What’s certain is that Marty O’Donnell’s congressional bid has become one of Nevada’s most closely watched and politically intriguing races of 2026.
The Old Blog in the Desert 
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