President Donald Trump has endorsed primary challengers to multiple Republican lawmakers who have drawn his ire, including Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky, who has sparred with the president often during his second term over U.S. intervention in foreign conflicts.
Trump’s support can be powerful and is being leveraged to push through his agenda on redistricting, spending, border security, voting, and more.
“The president and many people around him have been very clear what happens to those who do not stand up for his agenda,” a Trump political adviser said.
Trump has also snubbed Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., who five years ago voted to convict Trump on impeachment charges, and instead endorsed Rep. Julia Letlow for his spot.
“I’m gonna leave that between Sen. Cassidy and President Trump — well, actually, between Sen. Cassidy and the voters in Louisiana,” Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, recently said. “They’re going to have the final say. I’m focused on my race, as you might imagine.”
Trump has not endorsed Cornyn or Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton in their state’s primary for the Senate, which is headed to a runoff after neither candidate secured a majority of the vote.
In the Kentucky primary, Trump has endorsed Ed Gallrein, a former Navy SEAL, and launched a super PAC dedicated solely to defeating Massie. The group, MAGA KY, has spent more than $3 million on ads attacking the congressman.
“He’s probably more vulnerable than he’s been since he first won in a primary because of all this,” GOP strategist and former Kentucky state Rep. Adam Koenig said. “There’s money outside of Trump world ready to go after Massie.”
In Indiana, the president has endorsed primary challengers against seven of the eight GOP state senators on the ballot who opposed his push to redraw state congressional lines.
Republicans hold a 53-47 majority in the Senate (which includes two independents who caucus with Democrats) and a slim majority in the House, holding 217 seats to 212 for Democrats. Democrats would need to defend all 47 seats and flip four GOP seats in the Senate to win control in November. In the House, Democrats would need to flip just three seats to win control of the 435-voting member body.
By Alex Chen | Wednesday, 29 April 2026
