By SUZANNE DOWNING
Aug. 15, 2026 — President Donald Trump and US Sen. Dan S. Sullivan spoke Friday about the “Decoy Dan” controversy that has roiled Alaska’s US Senate race and infuriated voters, according to sources familiar with the conversation.
Later Friday, Trump issued a forceful endorsement of Sullivan on Truth Social and directly warned Alaska voters about what he described as an attempt by Democrats to confuse them by recruiting another candidate with nearly the same name. Trump did not hold back:
“Because of the trickery in the Voting, the Crooked, Radical Left Democrats have put up another man named ‘Dan Sullivan,’ and they did this to take Votes away from our Great Senator of the same name,” Trump wrote. “Democrats are trying to ‘trick’ Alaskans, and treat Alaskan Voters with contempt.”
Trump then told voters exactly which Sullivan to select in Tuesday’s primary:
“The Senator you want to vote for is: ‘SULLIVAN, DAN S. — REGISTERED REPUBLICAN/INCUMBENT.’”
“‘SULLIVAN, DAN S.’ has my Complete and Total Endorsement for Re-Election — HE WILL NOT LET YOU DOWN!” Trump wrote.
The president’s intervention places the Decoy Dan controversy squarely on the national political stage just four days before Alaska’s Aug. 18 primary election.
Trump praised Sullivan’s record as Alaska’s former attorney general and Department of Natural Resources commissioner, as well as his work in the US Senate. He highlighted Sullivan’s support for border security, the military and veterans, energy development, lower taxes, regulatory reform and the Second Amendment.
“Senator Dan Sullivan is doing a fantastic job representing the Great State of Alaska!” Trump wrote.
The president also pointed to his administration’s recent work to secure 11 new Arctic Security Cutter icebreakers, noting that Sullivan “has been with us all the way.”
The post came the same day that the Chicago Tribune published a glowing profile of Daniel J. Sullivan Jr., the Petersburg resident who is challenging the senator after changing his voter registration to Republican shortly before filing for office.
In that interview, Decoy Dan offered two revealing admissions.
He said he chose to run as a Republican because he “wanted to take it to the senator.” He also acknowledged that even if he finishes among the top four candidates in Tuesday’s primary, he has not decided whether he would continue campaigning in the general election.
“If he ends up in the top four next week, he said he’ll then decide whether he keeps going,” the Tribune reported.
That admission raises a fundamental question about whether Decoy Dan is seriously seeking election to the U.S. Senate or merely attempting to damage the incumbent long enough to influence the outcome. The Alaska Story reported on those statements earlier Friday.
Decoy Dan was previously registered with the now-dissolved Alaskan Independence Party. He initially said his decision to register as a Republican was influenced by his father and grandfather, whom he described as Republicans who taught him “compassionate conservatism.” Voter records subsequently raised questions about that explanation.
The Alaska Division of Elections initially disqualified Decoy Dan J. Sullivan Jr. after Director Carol Beecher concluded that the totality of the circumstances showed his candidacy was intended to confuse or mislead voters.
Among the evidence cited was his attempt to appear on the ballot as “Dan Sullivan” with the middle initial “S,” the same initial used by the incumbent. His actual name is Daniel James Sullivan Jr.
The division also pointed to his registering as a Republican candidate when he was an “undeclared” voter, similarities between his campaign materials and the senator’s political branding, and the involvement of Democratic political professionals in launching his campaign.
An Anchorage Superior Court judge reversed the division’s decision, concluding that Alaska election law did not expressly authorize officials to disqualify a candidate for failing to file in “good faith.”
The Alaska Supreme Court allowed that ruling to stand, placing Decoy Dan back on the ballot.
Federal authorities have also reportedly examined whether the candidacy was part of a broader effort to interfere with Alaska’s election. NBC News and ABC News reported in July that the FBI and U.S. Department of Justice were investigating possible wire fraud and civil-rights conspiracy violations.
No charges have been announced.
Decoy Dan has denied that he is coordinating with Democrat Mary Peltola’s campaign or participating in an organized effort to mislead voters. Peltola’s campaign has also denied involvement.
But his statement to the Chicago Tribune that he registered Republican specifically to “take it to” Sen. Sullivan, combined with his admission that he may abandon the race even if voters advance him to the general election, appears to reinforce the concerns raised by the Division of Elections.
Breaking: ‘Decoy Dan’ admits he may quit if he reaches final four, and says he registered Republican to ‘take it to’ Sen. Sullivan
Under Alaska’s jungle top-four primary system, the four candidates receiving the most votes advance to the ranked-choice general election regardless of party. Even a relatively small number of mistaken or intentionally diverted votes could affect which candidates survive the primary and how the November race unfolds.
Trump’s message Friday left no ambiguity about which candidate he supports — or what he believes is behind the second Sullivan candidacy.
Unlike Mary Peltola running from an endorsement by Kamala Harris, Sen. Dan Sullivan embraced the Trump endorsement.
“Thank you, President @realDonaldTrump, for your support. Alaska is the firewall for freedom in America, and this election is too important for Alaskans to allow the political games being played by Mary Peltola and Lower 48 liberals to work. Make sure to get to the polls on August 18″ Sullivan wrote on X.
On Tuesday, Alaska voters will see both names. Trump is telling them to look for the middle initial, the incumbent designation and the registered Republican label: Dan S. Sullivan.
13 thoughts on “Exclusive: Trump, Sen. Sullivan discuss ‘Decoy Dan’ election shenanigans as president warns Alaskans: ‘Don’t be fooled’”
Democrats pursue any form and manner of election fraud and cheating. It’s what they do. And they try to legitimize it with the same old worn out tactics …….
voters rights and constitutional issues.
Both are misapplied and inapplicable as defenses. Desperate Democrats. America haters. Communists. NEVER vote Democrat, or an attempt by a Democrat to re-identify themselves as Independents.
Trump said, “ don’t be fooled”. Donald Trump said that. The man who promised no new wars, to end the Russia Ukraine war on day one and bring down prices said “don’t be fooled”. Did you vote for Trump?
SULLIVAN = TRUMP
TRUMP = POISON
NOVEMBER =PELTOLA
Your hero and role model, Joe Biden, is no longer in office. Donald J. Trump is now your president.
I’m pro democracy, pro freedom, pro code of law. How about you M.John, did you vote for our felon rapist president?
Sing will be sorely disappointed come November. Both Peltola and RCV will be relegated to “amusing and laughable dustbin facts” about Alaska electoral history. Maybe Sing will then crawl back into the hole he came out of.
How about you M.John, did you vote for our felon rapist president?
I hear you Evan. Most though are too brainwashed to see it.
I voted for Trump 3 times. His first term was decent enough. This term has been a disaster. He failed to stop the ukraine war, started down this catastrophic war with iran, not enough deportations, way too many work visas, etc. The big issue for me even more catastrophic is the epstein issue. There is ZERO EXCUSE…. ZERO not to vigorously investigate the epstein crime files and then start prosecuting these sicko bastards. Trump will go down as their biggest defender. Pedophile in chief. So sick and so sad. I am ashamed of my past support. Dan sullivan is such a fake as well. Just sicko people who have sold their soul to satan.
At this point I am forced to vote for Peltola. She has zero qualities that would make her a good senator. However, at this point deadlock in DC is the best we can ask for. We get rid of RCV this fall then start systematically cleaning house in future elections.
Evan, that’s exactly what I’m trying to explain to you. Joe Biden, the old fraudulently elected, child-sniffing, poopy-pants whom you aspire to be exactly like, is no longer in the White House. Your president, whom I did in fact vote for, is now Donald Trump, who even democrat- owned courts and judges, who hated him, could not convict of rape in their kangaroo courts. It was just too much of a stretch. And, so he won against the person you voted for, Kamala (a.k.a. Cackles the Clown) Harris, whom you undoubtedly worship, and with whom you are on an intellectual par.
You ok with reading a few facts? I don’t want to trigger you again. There is zero evidence that Biden was fraudulently elected. Let it go M.John. That you believe Trump, who has been caught lying a few times, eliminates your claims.
There is so much to gain by thinking critically using evidence and reason and the scientific method. Try applying it to your claim about Biden.
The adjudicated felon (34 charges) you chirp about is a crook and a thief. He was impeached!
And he was convicted of sexual assault which the judge also referred to as rape.
And Biden is, in fact, not the president. We agree on that.
And finally, Kamala Harris absolutely could have led our country better than the guy who got a blow job from a 13 year old girl.
Hahaha! Who’s triggered? Donald J. Trump is your president!
Singh = RETARD.
Ignore the noise. Focus on the playbook. If you “believe” this wasn’t a coordinated effort between Peltola’s campaign, national democrats and decoy Dan, then you’re a complete fool or just ok with “your” side playing unethical politics. Do people on the right play this way too? I have no doubt. But if you’re only willing to argue, “but Trump”, then you’re so blinded by TDS and partisan bias a rational conversation is impossible.
There are more false-flag candidates than the faker from Petersburg. Follow the money, see who is propping up their campaigns. Gerald Heikes is tied to a Wisconsin PAC who seems to be tied to Soros’ Arabella Advisors.