Tennessee Democratic candidates Jerri Green and Justin Pearson pushed back Sunday after President Donald Trump attacked them by name at a Republican rally in Clarksville, arguing that his rhetoric does not address the financial pressures facing families and small businesses. Trump spoke Saturday at F&M Bank Arena, urging supporters to vote Republican on Nov. 3 and promoting GOP candidates, including U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn, the party’s nominee for governor. He portrayed the election as a choice between Republican economic policies and what he described as the consequences of Democratic leadership, using labels including “radical left” and “communists” for his opponents. Green, the Democratic nominee for governor, is a public defender from Shelby County. Trump accused her of wanting to defund police, restrict law enforcement in Memphis and take away guns. In a video posted Sunday, Green rejected the accusations and defended her work representing people in court. “I’m not pro-crime. But I am a proud public defender,” Green said, adding that she had spent her career “fighting for the underdog and the Constitution.” She also referred to Trump’s 2024 New York case, in which he was convicted on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records. In a separate statement, Green said voters were more concerned about the cost of living, health care and their families’ futures than personal attacks. She said her campaign had proposals to address those issues but did not detail them in the statement provided. Trump also targeted Pearson, a state representative seeking the Democratic nomination for Tennessee’s 9th Congressional District. Pearson is running against Republican state Sen. Brent Taylor. Trump called Pearson a communist and criticized his position on deportations. Speaking at a rally Sunday in Columbia, Pearson said his opponents’ differing labels for him showed that they were focused on political attacks. He said his campaign was centered on lowering costs, increasing wages and expanding access to health care. Pearson also opposed data center projects he described as toxic and called for raising the minimum wage and providing grants to small businesses. “Small businesses and working families are struggling in Tennessee,” Pearson said, arguing that Trump and Taylor had not addressed those challenges. At the Clarksville rally, Trump touted economic investments in Tennessee, including a planned investment of more than $6 billion by Korea Zinc, which he said would create 740 jobs in Montgomery and Smith counties. He also cited General Motors’ announced $275 million investment in its Spring Hill facility. Trump promoted a proposed $5,000 payment to each adult U.S. citizen if Republicans win control of both chambers of Congress, saying tariff revenue could fund the payment. Blackburn urged rally attendees to turn out for the election. Early voting in Tennessee is scheduled to start Oct. 14, ahead of Election Day on Nov. 3.