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Insiders Say Trump Has Finally Settled On His 2028 Favorite

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President Donald Trump signs Executive Orders, Thursday, April 17, 2025, in the Oval Office. (Official White House Photo by Molly Riley)

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump is increasingly signaling that Vice President JD Vance is his preferred heir to the MAGA movement, according to multiple White House insiders, though the president has stopped short of offering a formal endorsement for the 2028 Republican nomination.

The reports suggest Trump has moved away from privately weighing Vance against Secretary of State Marco Rubio and now speaks more confidently about the vice president’s political future.

White House Sources Point To Vance

According to Axios, White House aides say Trump has begun making comments such as “JD looks great” and no longer frames the question as a choice between Vance and Rubio. One administration source told Axios that “JD is earning it, and Trump sees it.”

The turning point for Vance reportedly came in mid-June when he joined presidential envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff in helping negotiate the memorandum of understanding with Iran, a key step toward ending the conflict.

The diplomatic breakthrough coincided with the June 16 release of Vance’s book, “Communion: Finding My Way Back to Faith.” Already scheduled for a promotional tour, Vance received additional national exposure because of his prominent role in the negotiations.

Vance conducted 33 interviews during June, appearing on conservative podcasts, at White House press briefings, in informal media gaggles, and on programs across the political spectrum, including HBO’s “Real Time with Bill Maher” and ABC’s “The View.”

One Trump adviser told Axios that although the president does not watch “The View,” he saw clips from Vance’s appearance and was pleased with what he saw.

Trump Hasn’t Made It Official

Despite the reports, Trump has not publicly endorsed Vance as his successor.

Over the past year, the president has repeatedly praised both Vance and Rubio while emphasizing that the next presidential election remains years away. He has previously suggested that the vice president would naturally have an advantage but has also described Rubio as a strong potential leader.

Political observers note that withholding a formal endorsement allows Trump to maintain influence within the Republican Party while avoiding an early succession battle.

Rubio Remains An Influential Figure

Rubio continues to be viewed as one of the administration’s most influential officials, but allies say he has shown little interest in challenging Vance for the Republican nomination.

The secretary of state has publicly praised Vance and has previously indicated he would support the vice president if he decides to seek the White House in 2028.

2028 Race Already Taking Shape

Although the Republican presidential primary is still more than two years away, speculation about Trump’s eventual successor has intensified as potential candidates build fundraising networks and expand their national profiles.

For now, Trump has not formally anointed a successor. But according to White House insiders, the president increasingly appears to view Vance as the leading contender to carry the MAGA banner after he leaves office.

READ NEXT: Stephen A. Smith Predicts Democrats’ New Direction Could Cost Them Everything

Marjorie Taylor Greene Floats New ‘America-First’ Party, Says Tucker Carlson Could Upend 2028

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By The White House - https://x.com/RepMTG/status/1925525961656717605/, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=178898214

Former Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) is taking her political break with the Republican Party a step further, revealing she is actively discussing the creation of a new political movement that she says would challenge both Republicans and Democrats.

Speaking Tuesday on Piers Morgan Uncensored, Greene said conversations about launching a third party are already underway, though she acknowledged the obstacles are significant.

“I think there’s a group of us that if we decide to align, we could launch a true America-focused party that doesn’t fall into the traps of Democrats or Republicans, but could align some serious players from the right and the left,” Greene told Morgan.

Greene added that the effort would be a long-term project rather than an immediate electoral play.

“It’s difficult to launch a third party, so the reality is this isn’t something that gets off the ground in just a couple of campaign cycles,” she said. “This is a movement that has to be developed and would take time to develop.”

The comments come just days after Greene publicly declared she was finished supporting what she called the “America LAST Republican Party,” aligning herself with former Fox News host Tucker Carlson, who recently announced he would no longer support GOP candidates after decades as one of the party’s most influential media voices. (RELATED: Tucker Carlson and MTG Turn on GOP in Stunning MAGA Revolt)

Greene argued that Carlson’s split reflects a broader frustration among conservatives who believe the Republican Party has abandoned its voters.

Morgan also pressed Greene on growing speculation that Carlson could mount a 2028 presidential campaign.

Rather than dismiss the idea, Greene suggested he would be a formidable force if he chose to run.

“I haven’t had that direct conversation with Tucker. I know a lot of people are speculating that, and I can tell you right now, Tucker Carlson would be a great threat to both parties because there’s many Americans that are very independent that would support him, but there’s also Republican voters and Democrat voters that would support him,” Greene said. “So I would say he’s a very credible threat.”

The remarks mark another escalation in Greene’s increasingly public feud with President Donald Trump.

Once one of Trump’s fiercest allies on Capitol Hill, Greene broke with the administration over several issues, including U.S. military operations against Iran and other policy disputes. The rift intensified after Trump publicly criticized Greene and withdrew his political support, prompting her decision to leave Congress earlier this year.

Tucker Carlson’s War With Trump Hits New Low: ‘Shut Up, B*tch’

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Tucker Carlson via Gage Skidmore Flickr

The gloves are officially off.

Just weeks after blasting President Donald Trump’s handling of the Iran conflict, abandoning the Republican Party, and declaring “I’m out,” Tucker Carlson has launched what may be his most personal attack on the president yet.

Appearing on the Jack Neel Podcast on Wednesday, Carlson mocked Trump as a loudmouth who talks tough but lacks the resolve to back it up.

Recalling Trump’s repeated Truth Social warnings that Iran’s regime could be eliminated, Carlson argued the president realized there was “no obvious military solution” and tried to bluff his way through the crisis.

“So he tried to posture his way out of it,” Carlson said, impersonating Trump. “‘We’re going to eliminate you.'”

According to Carlson, the strategy backfired.

“After like the 400th Truth Social, [Iran] reached the same conclusion that everyone on the globe reached, which is this guy’s not strong, he’s weak,” Carlson said. “Strong people don’t brag about how strong they are. They just punch you in the face and end the conversation.”

Carlson then compared Trump to the kind of barroom braggart his late father once warned him about.

“My father was a boxer at one point,” Carlson said, explaining that there are “two types of guys” in a fight.

The first, he said, are the men who puff out their chests and shout, “What’d you say? Say it again!”

“You don’t have to worry about those guys,” Carlson said.

The people to fear, he argued, are the ones who stay quiet until they strike.

“And Trump is very much, ‘What’d you say?!'” Carlson continued before delivering his bluntest insult yet.

“Shut up, b*tch! I don’t take you seriously. No, I’m not being mean. But like, come on.”

The extraordinary remarks mark another dramatic escalation in Carlson’s increasingly bitter feud with the president.

Once one of Trump’s most influential allies, Carlson has spent the past several weeks repeatedly criticizing the administration’s approach to Iran, warning that the conflict betrayed the “America First” agenda that energized millions of Republican voters. (RELATED: Tucker Carlson and MTG Turn on GOP in Stunning MAGA Revolt)

The split has only widened since then.

As GAND previously reported, Carlson recently declared that he could no longer support the Republican Party, saying, “I would not support the Republican Party. There’s no chance I would support the Republican Party.”

He later argued that Republican leaders had become disloyal to American voters, asking, “How could I or any American voter support a political party that’s not loyal to the United States?”

Former Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) quickly echoed Carlson’s frustration, writing on social media that she, too, was “done supporting the Republican Party.”

“There is A LOT of us that are absolutely fed up,” Greene wrote. “We are DONE with the America LAST Republican Party.”

Trump, meanwhile, has repeatedly rejected Carlson’s criticism.

During the height of tensions with Iran, the president pushed back against suggestions that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was dictating American policy.

“I call the shots,” Trump said. “I call all the shots.”

Carlson now appears unconvinced.

What began as a disagreement over foreign policy has evolved into one of the most public and personal feuds within the conservative movement.

With each new interview, Carlson’s language has become more pointed—and more difficult for Republicans to ignore.

Trump Unloads After Socialist Sweep Leaves Democrats In Chaos

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President Donald Trump is crowing after a stunning series of Democrat primary upsets in New York left establishment Democrats shell-shocked and exposed deep cracks inside their party.

The political earthquake came Tuesday night as three candidates backed by New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani — a democratic socialist whose rise has already rattled Democrat leaders — swept congressional primaries, knocking off establishment favorites and fueling fears that the party is drifting sharply left.

Trump wasted no time piling on.

“America the Beautiful will NEVER be a Communist Country!!!” Trump declared on Truth Social Wednesday morning.

The president later mocked defeated Rep. Dan Goldman (D-NY), one of the Democrats most closely associated with Trump’s first impeachment.

“Weak and pathetic Congressman Dan Goldman just lost, BIG!” Trump wrote Tuesday night. “I guess people didn’t like him illegally targeting President TRUMP.”

Goldman, who served as lead counsel during Democrats’ first impeachment effort against Trump in 2019, was crushed by former New York City Comptroller Brad Lander, a progressive backed by both Mamdani and Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT). Lander defeated the incumbent by more than 30 points in New York’s deep-blue 10th Congressional District.

Trump wasn’t finished.

“Even though he tried unsuccessfully to prosecute me, and despite the fact that he is a major Slimeball, I feel sorry for FORMER Congressman Dan Goldman,” Trump wrote Wednesday. “He is wandering aimlessly … through a large field of Dumocrat Communists.”

The New York primary results sent shockwaves through Democratic circles far beyond Manhattan.

Along with Lander’s victory, Democratic Socialist candidates Claire Valdez and Darializa Avila Chevalier also won their respective primaries, creating what some Democrats described as a socialist takeover of key New York races.

Axios dubbed the results a “socialist earthquake” that could dramatically increase the influence of Democratic Socialists of America-aligned lawmakers in Congress.

The biggest warning sign for Democrats may have come from one of their own.

Pennsylvania Sen. John Fetterman, increasingly isolated from the party’s activist wing, blasted the results during a Wednesday appearance on Fox News.

“It’s just been the dancing days of the dirt bag Left,” Fetterman said. “Some of these candidates are outrageous.”

“You have candidates they want to abolish ICE, abolish the police, abolish the border.”

Fetterman warned that socialist activists are “declaring a war on just regular Democrats.”

“They’re all socialists, of course, and now there’s a communist and now a Marxist,” he added. “That’s not even looked down on, and it’s a significant part of the Democratic Party right now.”

The Pennsylvania Democrat also argued that anti-Israel activism has become a driving force in Democratic primaries.

“Hate for Israel has become the center of a lot of these primaries across the country,” Fetterman said. “Definitely what we’re witnessing in New York City.”

“Now that’s going to become the lesson that the Democratic Party is going to continue to be anti-Israel, and I’ll be the one that’s going to continue to lean in and be proud to stand with Israel.”

The results also represented a humiliating setback for House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY), who backed several of the losing establishment candidates.

Jeffries endorsed Goldman and other incumbents who were swept aside by candidates aligned with Mamdani’s rapidly expanding political machine.

Moderate Democrats are increasingly worried the victories could hand Republicans a potent weapon heading into the 2026 midterms.

New York Post columnist and CNN commentator Van Jones described Mamdani’s operation as more than just a progressive movement, calling it a political machine capable of reshaping the Democratic Party from the ground up.

Republicans are already framing the results as proof that the Democrat Party is falling under the control of socialists and anti-capitalist activists.

“Tonight wasn’t just a bad night for so-called ‘Leader’ Hakeem Jeffries,” National Republican Congressional Committee spokesman Mike Marinella said after the results became clear. “It was the night the Democrat establishment officially surrendered to Zohran Mamdani and the socialist wing of their party.”

“Americans should be terrified by where the Democrat Party is headed.”

For Trump, who has long argued that Democrats are embracing socialism, the New York results handed him fresh ammunition.

One Trump Endorsement Just Ended This Governor’s Race

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President Donald J. Trump hosts a Rose Garden Club dinner in honor of Police Week in the White House Rose Garden, Monday, May 11, 2026. (Official White House Photo by Molly Riley)

President Donald Trump’s political muscle was on full display Monday in Michigan.

Just hours after Trump issued a full-throated endorsement of Republican gubernatorial candidate Rep. John James, one of James’ top primary rivals suspended his campaign and fell in line behind the president’s choice.

“It is my Great Honor to endorse America First Congressman, John James, who is running to become the next Governor of the Beautiful State of Michigan!” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “John James has my Complete and Total Endorsement to be the next Governor of Michigan — HE WILL NOT LET YOU DOWN!”

The endorsement landed like a political thunderbolt in a Republican primary where Trump’s backing was widely viewed as the single most valuable prize.

James quickly celebrated the endorsement, calling Trump “the greatest President of my lifetime.”

Then came the shockwave.

Michigan Senate Minority Leader Aric Nesbitt, who had been running against James for the GOP nomination, abruptly suspended his campaign and endorsed James.

“This campaign has always been about the people of Michigan and standing with President Trump to defeat the Democrats in November,” Nesbitt said. “Today, I am suspending my campaign and proudly joining President Trump in endorsing John James as Michigan’s next Governor.”

“A divided primary only helps Democrats. It’s time to unite,” he added.

James wasted no time framing the move as proof of Trump’s influence.

“When President Trump endorsed this campaign, Aric Nesbitt did exactly what a true Michigan CONSERVATIVE should do,” James wrote on X. “He united behind the President and our mission to Save Michigan from the Libs and the RINOs destroying our Republic!”

The rapid surrender underscores a political reality Republicans have understood for years: in many GOP primaries, Trump’s endorsement can instantly reshape the field.

The Michigan governor’s race had been viewed as one of the nation’s most important Republican contests heading into 2026. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer is term-limited, creating an open-seat battle that Republicans believe offers a major pickup opportunity.

Trump’s endorsement carried even more weight because Michigan Republican voters have consistently indicated they place enormous value on the president’s recommendations. Prior polling found overwhelming majorities of GOP primary voters saying they would be more likely to support a Trump-endorsed candidate.

Not everyone was impressed.

Businessman Perry Johnson, another Republican candidate still in the race, blasted Trump’s decision.

“President Trump received bad advice yet again,” Johnson said. “John James is a two-time statewide loser, and Michigan has already seen this movie before.”

Johnson pointed to James’ unsuccessful U.S. Senate bids in 2018 and 2020, arguing Republicans need a different nominee to win statewide.

Former Michigan Attorney General Mike Cox also declined to step aside.

“Like @POTUS, I’ve won Michigan twice by building a coalition of working Michiganders who are sick of being screwed by the elites,” Cox wrote on X, adding that he looks forward to becoming “President Trump’s favorite Governor when I win.”

The endorsement marks a notable shift for Trump.

Last year, Trump publicly questioned whether James should leave Congress to run for governor, expressing concerns that Republicans could lose his competitive House seat and weaken the GOP majority in Washington.

Those concerns appear to have been put aside.

With Trump’s backing now secured and one major rival already gone, James enters the next phase of the race as the clear Republican frontrunner.

And if Monday was any indication, Trump’s endorsement may have effectively ended the primary before most voters even cast a ballot.

Tucker Carlson and MTG Turn on GOP in Stunning MAGA Revolt

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Marjorie Taylor Greene -Gage Skidmore from Surprise, AZ, United States of America, via Wikimedia Commons

For years, Tucker Carlson and Marjorie Taylor Greene were among the loudest voices defending the Republican Party and Donald Trump’s America First movement.

Now they’re publicly walking away.

In a stunning rebuke of the party they helped champion, Carlson declared that he can no longer support Republicans — and Greene quickly signaled she feels the same way.

“Tucker is not the only one who is done supporting the Republican Party,” Greene wrote Monday.

“There is A LOT of us that are absolutely fed up and will not support a party that betrays its voters and country.”

Then came the line that sent shockwaves through conservative circles:

“We are DONE with the America LAST Republican Party.”

The explosive comments came after Carlson’s own political breakup with the GOP during an appearance on the Can’t Be Censored podcast.

“I would not support the Republican Party. There’s no chance I would support the Republican Party,” Carlson said. “I’m not going to support the Democratic Party — I’m not sure what I’m going to do.”

For a man who spent decades defending Republican candidates, Republican policies, and Republican voters, it was a remarkable admission.

And Carlson wasn’t done.

“How could I or any American voter support a political party that’s not loyal to the United States?” he asked.

The former Fox News star has spent weeks attacking what he sees as the Republican establishment’s willingness to involve America in another Middle East conflict. He has repeatedly blasted U.S. military action involving Iran and accused GOP leaders of putting foreign interests ahead of American citizens.

The fight has also opened a rare and very public rift between Carlson and President Donald Trump.

Once one of Trump’s most influential allies, Carlson has increasingly questioned the administration’s foreign policy decisions, warning that America First voters never signed up for another overseas conflict.

Now, Greene appears to be standing beside him.

Neither Carlson nor Greene expressed support for Democrats. In fact, both made clear their frustration runs in the opposite direction: they believe Republicans have abandoned the very voters who delivered them power.

That sentiment is resonating with a growing segment of the MAGA base that feels disconnected from Republican leaders in Washington.

For years, Carlson and Greene helped energize millions of grassroots conservatives.

Today, they’re sending a very different message.

The party they spent years fighting for may no longer be worth fighting for.

Carlson put it in the simplest possible terms.

“I’m out.”

Greene’s response suggested he may have far more company than Republican leaders would like to admit.

Trump-Backed Pastor Drops Congressional Bid After Texting Scandal

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A prominent Oklahoma pastor who built his national profile as a staunch Trump ally and conservative Christian activist has abruptly suspended his campaign for Congress after reports revealed intimate text exchanges with a former beauty queen connected to his campaign.

Jackson Lahmeyer, founder of the pro-Trump organization Pastors for Trump, announced he was ending his bid for Oklahoma’s 1st Congressional District following reports detailing flirtatious messages between him and former Miss Oklahoma USA Caitlin Simmons Key, who worked as a fundraiser for his campaign.

The controversy quickly exposed an uncomfortable contradiction for a candidate who has spent years promoting conservative family values while presenting himself as a moral voice within the MAGA movement.

Lahmeyer admitted he had “crossed a boundary line through text messaging” but denied having a physical affair. He said he and his wife had already addressed the matter through counseling and prayer.

“I decided to choose my wife over my ambition,” Lahmeyer told reporters after announcing his withdrawal.

The political consequences were swift.

President Donald Trump, who had previously endorsed Lahmeyer and praised him as a “MAGA Warrior,” publicly abandoned the pastor and shifted his support to Oklahoma state Rep. Mark Tedford.

While Trump thanked Lahmeyer for his loyalty and years of support, he made clear that Tedford would now carry the America First banner in the race.

Lahmeyer insists his decision to leave the race was made before Trump’s endorsement switch became public. Still, the timing underscored how quickly political fortunes can change when personal scandals collide with public campaigns.

For years, Lahmeyer cultivated close ties to the Trump movement. His Tulsa church hosted appearances from Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump, and he became a nationally recognized evangelical voice defending Trump’s agenda. He also promoted claims of widespread voter fraud following the 2020 election and worked to mobilize evangelical voters during Trump’s 2024 campaign.

Now, the pastor who built his reputation on faith, family values, and political activism finds himself stepping away from public office after failing to meet the standards he routinely championed.

His exit effectively clears the path for Tedford to become the Republican nominee in the race to replace outgoing Rep. Kevin Hern, who is running for the U.S. Senate.

This article originally appeared on Election Watch News. It is republished with permission. To receive more reporting and analysis from Election Watch News, subscribe by clicking here.

Rupert Murdoch Reportedly Viewed Rubio More Favorably Than Vance in Private Discussion About GOP’s Future

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David Shankbone, CC BY 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons

Media mogul Rupert Murdoch privately offered a more favorable assessment of Secretary of State Marco Rubio than Vice President JD Vance during a conversation with President Donald Trump last year, according to a forthcoming book that provides new insight into early maneuvering ahead of the 2028 Republican presidential race.

The revelation comes from Regime Change, an upcoming book by New York Times reporters Maggie Haberman and Jonathan Swan. According to an excerpt published Wednesday by Axios, Trump sought Murdoch’s opinion of two of the Republican Party’s most prominent rising stars during a private dinner in October 2025.

According to Haberman and Swan’s account, Murdoch acknowledged Vance’s political potential and suggested he could eventually become a major force within the Republican Party. However, the media executive reportedly reserved his strongest praise for Rubio, describing the secretary of state as “brilliant.”

The reported exchange offers a rare glimpse into private conversations among influential figures as Republicans increasingly look beyond Trump’s second term and speculate about who could emerge as the party’s next standard-bearer after he leaves office.

Neither Rubio nor Vance has launched a presidential campaign, and both remain focused on their current roles within the Trump administration. Nevertheless, each has become a frequent subject of discussion among Republican strategists, donors, and political observers assessing the party’s future leadership.

Murdoch’s views carry particular weight within conservative political circles. As chairman emeritus of News Corp and a longtime power broker in Republican politics, Murdoch has played a significant role in shaping conservative media narratives and elevating political figures through outlets including Fox News, The Wall Street Journal, and the New York Post.

The book’s authors also suggest that Vance should not assume he will inherit Trump’s political coalition or receive an automatic endorsement in a future presidential bid.

According to Haberman and Swan, Trump has shown little interest in naming a political successor and instead appears inclined to encourage competition among potential Republican contenders. Such an approach could create a wide-open primary field despite Vance’s position as vice president.

Historically, sitting vice presidents often begin presidential campaigns with significant advantages, including national name recognition, established donor networks, and close ties to the administration they served. However, Trump’s dominance within the Republican Party has frequently disrupted traditional political norms and succession patterns.

Rubio’s growing prominence has been one of the notable developments of Trump’s second administration. Once one of Trump’s fiercest rivals during the 2016 Republican presidential primary, Rubio has since become a key ally and one of the administration’s most visible voices on foreign policy and international affairs.

Since taking office as secretary of state, Rubio has played a leading role in advancing the administration’s diplomatic agenda, further raising his profile among Republican voters and party insiders.

While the 2028 presidential election remains years away, Haberman and Swan’s account highlights the extent to which influential political figures are already evaluating potential contenders and positioning themselves for the post-Trump era.

Former Navy SEAL Sniper Falls Short as Trump-Backed Barry Moore Cruises to Alabama Senate Nomination

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President Donald Trump’s political kingmaker status scored another win Tuesday night as Rep. Barry Moore steamrolled former Navy SEAL sniper Jared Hudson in Alabama’s Republican Senate runoff, delivering yet another victory for a candidate carrying the Trump seal of approval.

Moore, a Freedom Caucus firebrand and one of Trump’s earliest supporters dating back to the 2016 campaign, defeated Hudson in the race to replace retiring Sen. Tommy Tuberville, who is leaving the Senate to run for governor. The win positions Moore as the overwhelming favorite heading into November in deep-red Alabama.

“The greatest days of Alabama are ahead of us,” Moore told supporters during his victory speech, thanking Trump for his endorsement and calling him “the greatest president of my lifetime.”

The race was widely viewed as another test of Trump’s influence over Republican primary voters — and once again, the president’s preferred candidate came out on top.

Hudson, a decorated combat veteran and former Navy SEAL sniper, tried to position himself as a political outsider capable of shaking up Washington. The former sheriff’s deputy, firefighter, small-business owner, and anti-human trafficking advocate advanced to the runoff after narrowly edging out Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall in the primary.

But despite endorsements from several conservative heavyweights and a late surge in some polling, Hudson couldn’t overcome Moore’s institutional backing or Trump’s endorsement.

Moore also secured support from Vice President JD Vance and Senate Majority Leader John Thune, giving establishment Republicans and MAGA loyalists a rare point of agreement.

The Alabama showdown is just the latest example of Trump’s continued dominance in GOP primaries ahead of the 2026 midterms.

On the same night, Trump-backed Georgia Rep. Mike Collins won his state’s Republican Senate runoff and will now face Democrat Jon Ossoff in one of the nation’s marquee Senate races.

Republican candidates endorsed by Trump have also scored major victories this cycle in several high-profile contests, including Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton’s defeat of longtime Sen. John Cornyn and Louisiana Rep. Julia Letlow’s successful Senate bid.

Still, Trump’s endorsement record hasn’t been flawless.

Georgia Republicans delivered one of the biggest surprises of the cycle Tuesday when billionaire businessman Rick Jackson defeated Trump-backed Lt. Gov. Burt Jones in the state’s gubernatorial runoff, handing the president one of his rare primary losses this year.

Even with that setback, Alabama’s results underscore a reality that has become increasingly difficult for Republican hopefuls to ignore: when Trump picks a side, GOP voters usually follow.

Moore will now advance to the general election, where he’ll face Democrat Everett Wess, who emerged victorious in the Democratic runoff Tuesday night. But in a state Trump carried comfortably and Republicans dominate statewide, Moore enters the fall campaign as the clear favorite to keep the seat in GOP hands.

Trump’s Grip On Georgia Faces Another Test As GOP Runoffs Reach The Finish Line

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President Donald Trump’s political muscle is being put to the test once again in Georgia, where a pair of high-stakes Republican runoff elections on Tuesday will determine not only the GOP’s nominees, but also whether Trump’s endorsements still carry the decisive weight they’ve wielded across much of the MAGA era.

In the state’s closely watched Senate runoff, Trump jumped into the race just 48 hours before voting ends, throwing his support behind Rep. Mike Collins over former University of Tennessee football coach Derek Dooley.

“Mike Collins is a true Friend, Fighter, and WARRIOR, who has been with us from the very beginning, and has my Complete and Total Endorsement to be your next United States Senator,” Trump wrote Sunday on Truth Social.

The endorsement escalates an already intense proxy battle between Trump and Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp, who backed Dooley and deployed his powerful political operation behind the former football coach.

The race will determine which Republican takes on Democrat Sen. Jon Ossoff in one of the nation’s most competitive Senate contests. With Ossoff the only Democrat senator seeking reelection in a state Trump carried in 2024, Republicans view Georgia as one of their top pickup opportunities.

Collins, a trucking company owner and current congressman, finished first in last month’s primary with nearly 41% of the vote but fell short of the 50% threshold needed to avoid a runoff. Dooley captured roughly 30% and has presented himself as a political outsider who can appeal beyond the GOP base.

After Trump’s endorsement, Dooley responded diplomatically.

“I have great respect for President Trump,” he wrote on X, adding that “the most important endorsement is that of the Georgia people.”

Trump, meanwhile, contrasted the two candidates sharply.

“I don’t know Derek Dooley, and neither does anyone else, but he seems like a nice person,” the president wrote before praising Collins as a “very successful Businessman” who is “always fighting tirelessly for our America First Agenda.”

The clash highlights the lingering tension between Trump and Kemp, whose relationship fractured after the governor certified Georgia’s 2020 election results despite Trump’s objections.

But the Senate race isn’t the only place Trump’s influence is being tested.

In Georgia’s Republican gubernatorial runoff, Trump has repeatedly endorsed Lt. Gov. Burt Jones, calling him “my good friend and your next Governor.”

Yet Jones faces a formidable challenge from billionaire businessman Rick Jackson, who has poured more than $100 million of his own fortune into the race.

Adding another wrinkle, Trump’s son appeared to break from his father’s preferred candidate on the eve of the election.

Donald Trump Jr. stopped short of endorsing Jackson but issued a lengthy statement praising the businessman as a “patriot” and highlighting his investments in domestic manufacturing and energy infrastructure.

“Regardless of what happens in the Georgia Governor’s race tomorrow, we should celebrate the patriots building up MAGA and an America First economy like Rick Jackson has,” Trump Jr. wrote.

He later clarified: “This is not an endorsement of Rick and I think Burt Jones is a great guy too. My only point is that no matter who wins tomorrow, it’s a victory for MAGA.”

Jones has also received backing from Kemp, who argued Monday that Republicans must nominate candidates capable of winning in November.

“My mission is to make sure that we have the best folks at the top of the ticket that can win in November,” Kemp said. “That’s why I’m supporting Burt Jones for governor.”

Meanwhile, Jackson has assembled his own coalition of national conservatives. Sen. Ted Cruz endorsed him Friday and campaigned with him ahead of the runoff.

“Rick has an extraordinary record, an extraordinary life story,” Cruz told Fox News. “I also think he’s positioned to win. The stakes are too high. We can’t afford to lose Georgia.”

Cruz rejected suggestions that his support for Jackson represented a break with the president.

“The president and I agree on the vast majority of races,” Cruz said. “What I try to do in every race is endorse the strongest conservative who can win.”

The twin runoffs have become a measuring stick for the competing forces shaping the modern Republican Party: Trump’s personal endorsement power, Kemp’s entrenched state-level machine, and the growing influence of self-funded outsiders willing to spend enormous sums to bypass traditional political structures.