Former Sen. Jon Tester (D-MT) drew a wave of criticism from progressives and journalists on Monday over his new gig, which one critic warned would only leave Americans “more jaded and distrustful” of their elected leaders going forward.
“What a corrupt windbag,” wrote journalist Zaid Jilani, reacting to Tester’s late-career pivot.
A self-described “dirt farmer,” Tester lost his 2024 reelection bid handily to now-Sen. Tim Sheehy (R-MT) and has since largely stepped away from politics, returning to the Montana farm his family has worked since 1912. A new report from NPR published on Monday, however, revealed that Tester has since been recruited by a company close to the Trump administration and whose co-founder has long supported President Donald Trump.
That company is Palantir — co-founded by Trump ally and billionaire Peter Thiel — which, according to NPR, hired Tester as an adviser.
“Just about the grossest way he could end his career,” wrote pollster Adam Carlson. “I can count on one hand companies that are more evil and have caused more direct human suffering than Palantir. And these kinds of revolving door antics make the public even more jaded and distrustful of their elected officials.”
Human rights groups have long accused Palantir of profiting from human suffering, pointing to its $30 million no-bid contract to build ICE’s “ImmigrationOS,” software meant to help the agency choose whom to deport and track migrants who leave the country. Amnesty International and other critics have also condemned the company’s work for the Israeli military during its war in Gaza, which a United Nations commission and countless human rights groups have declared a genocide.
Former Obama administration official and prominent podcaster Tommy Vietor called the development “depressing,” progressive organizer and strategist Melissa Byrne wished Tester “good riddance,” and Washington-based political strategist Hamid Bendaas argued the hire showed the damage “moderate Democrats” can inflict on their own party.
“Understated problem with moderate Democrats that doesn’t turn up in [Wins Above Replacement] is that their business friendliness and desire for personal wealth by any means often veers into open corruption that tanks the party’s brand,” Bendaas wrote.
In a statement to NPR, Tester insisted that his new role with Palantir was “not lobbying” and was strictly “advisory in nature.”
Abolish the politician to lobbyist pipeline. — Melanie D’Arrigo (@DarrigoMelanie) November 9, 2026
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