Full Breakdown
Dan Osborn Faces Backlash After Leaked Audio Insulting Trump Supporters
By Drooid · · How we work
The Leaked Recording
A short audio clip surfaced online showing independent Senate candidate Dan Osborn describing rural Nebraskans who support President Donald Trump in vulgar terms. The clip was posted by an account called “Osborn Leaks” and was later obtained by the Omaha World-Herald, which verified it with a participant in the conversation. RNC Research also posted the 35-second excerpt, confirming its origin from a campaign-related event early in the summer.
Osborn’s Response
Osborn acknowledged the audio as sounding like him but claimed it was “out of character.” He added that he would apologize to anyone offended and emphasized that his frustration stems from “the lives probably suck” situation many Nebraskans face. Osborn reiterated his independent stance, saying he will not caucus with either party if elected.
Political Stakes
Nebraska’s Senate race has drawn national attention because the state voted for Trump by roughly 20 points in 2024. Democratic leaders, seeking to unseat incumbent Republican Sen. Pete Ricketts and break the GOP’s narrow Senate majority, have cleared the primary field to back Osborn as the sole non-Republican challenger. The Cook Political Report rates Republicans as 10-point favorites in the upcoming midterms, but Osborn’s independent bid is positioned as a “unified challenger” that could make the race competitive.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Billy Bob in f------ Red Cloud, Nebraska, who lives next to the f----- Trump store as you pull into town is waving the Trump flag. All he knows is he's on the winning team,” — Dan Osborn — Dan Osborn
- “What I'm talking about, I'm talking about people are pissed off, people are disenfranchised, especially, and that's what Trump captured in Nebraska. He captured people who are angry about the political system, and Trump ran outside of that as an outsider. That's what people like about Trump. It's why I'm running again as an independent, running outside the political system,” — Dan Osborn — Dan Osborn
- “I'm talking about people (that) are pissed off,” — Dan Osborn — Dan Osborn
- “People are disenfranchised, and that is what Trump captured in Nebraska. He captured people who are angry about the political system.” — Dan Osborn — Dan Osborn
- “That's why people are angry, that is why I am angry, and I think anyone who hears this and knows me understands that's where this is coming from,” — Dan Osborn — Dan Osborn
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
The audio’s authenticity is corroborated by two independent sources: the Omaha World-Herald, which verified it with a conversation participant, and RNC Research, which obtained the clip from an unlisted YouTube page. No outlet has presented a contradictory version of the recording, but the precise context of the original campaign event remains unclear.
What’s Next
With the midterm elections only weeks away, the race will feature Osborn, Ricketts, and Democratic nominee Cindy Burbank. Voter sentiment toward the leaked remarks is likely to influence turnout among both Trump supporters and independents, making the final weeks of campaigning critical for all three candidates.