President Donald Trump is letting loose against Senate Republican incumbents — creating headaches for chamber leadership and leaving vulnerable lawmakers to fend against the president’s ire.
In a matter of months, Trump has turned on Sen. Bill Cassidy (who’s facing a strong primary challenger), Sen. Susan Collins (who the president said should “never be elected again”) and Sen. Thom Tillis (who’s since opted for retirement), all of whom were or are up for reelection in 2026. Trump has also refused to help embattled Sen. John Cornyn, who’s facing a primary challenge from Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, despite open pleas from Republicans for the president to endorse the sitting incumbent.
“The president gets to do whatever he wants,” Sen. Rick Scott said. “He has people that he knows — he believes — are going to support his agenda. People endorse people they think are going to vote with them.”