Trump-Endorsed Candidate Pledges Salary to Veteran’s Family

Anthony Constantino, a Republican congressional candidate endorsed by Trump, announced that he will donate his annual congressional salary of $174,000 to the family of Sgt. Eddie Ryan, an Iraq War veteran. This pledge is irrespective of whether he wins in New York’s 21st Congressional District.

The CEO of Sticker Mule, Constantino, made this commitment on June 10 during an event in Queensbury, New York. He provided Ryan’s family with a handwritten note ensuring the donation, reported The Daily Gazette.

I planned to give away my entire congressional salary from day one, Constantino told Fox News Digital. My team presented a few options, and I immediately thought of Sgt. Eddie Ryan because he inspired me to fight harder early in this race.

Constantino emphasized the gesture as symbolic, aiming to inspire Americans to strive for a better future and encourage others to support Veterans. Ryan, a former U.S. Marine Corps sniper, was injured in Iraq in 2005 by friendly fire. His injuries included a traumatic brain injury, causing lasting challenges in mobility and speech, detailed The Daily Gazette.

Constantino initially met Ryan and his family outside a Warren County Republican Committee meeting earlier this year. Although brief, the encounter left a profound impact. Sgt. Ryan is a role model for loving America and staying positive in the face of adversity, Constantino said.

Ryan expressed astonishment at the announcement. I’m still floored, he stated, as noted by The Daily Gazette.

Constantino is competing against state Assembly Member Robert Smullen in the June 23 Republican primary to succeed Rep. Elise Stefanik. He’s invested millions of his own funds into his campaign, positioning it as a challenge to the political establishment.

It’s an opportunity to move the country in a positive direction, Constantino remarked. Once I saw firsthand how bad the swamp is that President Trump often discusses, I felt compelled to use my resources for a better future for America.

Earlier in the year, President Donald Trump endorsed Constantino, citing him as an America First Patriot running to represent New York’s 21st Congressional District. Constantino had previously confronted local officials over a large pro-Trump sign at his factory.