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    Report: Susie Wiles Tapped For Trump Admin. Chief Of Staff Role

    By
    Madeleine Jackson
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    2

    Who will Trump tap to serve in his administration?

    Susie Wiles, a veteran political operative who worked closely with President-elect Trump during his campaign, is making history as the first female Chief of Staff.

    Sources within Trump’s transition team and others close to the former president’s campaign confirmed to Fox News that Wiles was reportedly the frontrunner for White House chief of staff – the person who oversees the Executive Office of the President before Trump made the announcement on Thursday.

    Trump, during his victory celebration in West Palm Beach late Tuesday night, gave special thanks to Wiles for her prominent role throughout the campaign. 

    “Let me also express my tremendous appreciation for Susie [Wiles] and Chris [LaCivita], the job you did. Susie, come, Susie,” Trump said, inviting her up to the microphone, but Wiles refrained from making comments.

    “Susie likes to stay sort of in the back, let me tell you. The ice baby. We call her the ice baby. Susie likes to stay in the background. She’s not in the background,” Trump added. “Thank you, Susie.”

    NBC News also reported that Wiles is seen as the frontrunner to become Trump’s chief of staff. Two sources in Trump’s political orbit didn’t wave Fox News off the reporting.

    Wiles currently serves as a senior adviser to Trump and his campaign co-chair alongside Chris LaCivita.

    Former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy was previously floated as a possible contender for chief of staff, but recently told “The Guy Benson Show” that he would not take the position if it was offered. 

    “People always ask if I’m going to be chief of staff, no I’m not going to be… that’s a no,” he said. 

    This is a breaking news story. Please check back for updates.

    Trump Sticks His Nose into House Speaker Battle

    By
    Madeleine Jackson
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    20
    Donald Trump via Gage Skidmore Flickr

    Donald Trump is offering his two cents on the unprecedented battle for House Speaker.

    In a series of Truth Social tweets, the former President urged Republican lawmakers to vote for Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) after he failed to secure the position through three rounds of voting.

    “Some really good conversations took place last night, and it’s now time for all of our GREAT Republican House Members to VOTE FOR KEVIN,” Trump posted on Truth Social.

    “CLOSE THE DEAL, TAKE THE VICTORY, & WATCH CRAZY NANCY PELOSI FLY BACK HOME TO A VERY BROKEN CALIFORNIA,THE ONLY SPEAKER IN U.S. HISTORY TO HAVE LOST THE ‘HOUSE’ TWICE! REPUBLICANS, DO NOT TURN A GREAT TRIUMPH INTO A GIANT & EMBARRASSING DEFEAT. IT’S TIME TO CELEBRATE, YOU DESERVE IT,” the 2024 presidential candidate continued.

    “Kevin McCarthy will do a good job, and maybe even a GREAT JOB – JUST WATCH!” Trump predicted.

    On Tuesday, the 118th Congress held three rounds of voting for House Speaker, but the California Republican fell short of crossing the 218 vote threshold as 19 Republican hardliners opted to support Rep. Jim Jordan(R-Ohio).

    However, despite Trump’s attempts to sway favor back towards McCarthy, lawmakers say even Trump’s endorsement isn’t enough.

    Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) who was among the 19 Republicans to oppose McCarthy, responded to Trump’s endorsement.

    “Sad!” Gaetz said in a Wednesday statement. “This changes neither my view of McCarthy nor Trump nor my vote.”

    Gaetz has been one of the most prominent figures to declare his opposition to McCarthy’s bid for Speaker and has worked to secure major concessions from the California Republican. However, negotiations have still fallen short and ultimately Rep. Gaetz nominated Rep. Jordan for Speaker during the first round of voting on Tuesday.

    On Tuesday, the Florida firebrand also sent a letter to the Architect of the Capitol on Tuesday questioning why House Speaker candidate McCarthy was already inhabiting the Speaker’s office when he had yet to officially win the position, according to The Hill.

    “I write to inform you that the Speaker of the House Office located in the U.S. Capitol Building is currently occupied by Rep. Kevin McCarthy,” Gaetz said in the letter.

    “As of this morning, the 117th Congress adjourned sine die, and a Speaker from the 118th Congress has not been elected,” he continued. “After three undeciding votes, no member can lay claim to this office.”

    What’s The Latest Hold Up To A House GOP Impeachment Inquiry Into Biden? McCarthy Explains.

    By
    admin
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    9
    Photo via Gage Skidmore Flickr

    In an exclusive interview with Breitbart, House Speaker Kevin McCarthy says he won’t open an impeachment inquiry into President Joe Biden without a floor vote. “If we move forward,” it “would occur through a vote” on the House floor, the speaker explained to Breitbart’s Matthew Boyle.

    McCarthy’s announcement confirms that moving forward with an impeachment inquiry will require 218 yes votes.

    Appearing on Charlie Kirk’s podcast, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene said that she believed the House Republican Conference has the votes to initiate formal proceedings against Biden.

    Fox News has more:

    “To open an impeachment inquiry is a serious matter, and House Republicans would not take it lightly or use it for political purposes. The American people deserve to be heard on this matter through their elected representatives,” McCarthy told Breitbart News in a statement. “That’s why, if we move forward with an impeachment inquiry, it would occur through a vote on the floor of the People’s House and not through a declaration by one person.”

    McCarthy’s position is a departure from how his predecessor Rep. Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., handled the first impeachment inquiry against former President Donald Trump. In 2019, Pelosi unilaterally proclaimed that the House would advance an impeachment inquiry against Trump after the controversy over his infamous phone call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

    “This week, the president has admitted to asking the president of Ukraine to take actions which would benefit him politically,” Pelosi said on Sept. 24, 2019. “Therefore, today, I’m announcing the House of Representatives is moving forward with an official impeachment inquiry. I’m directing our six committees to proceed with their investigations under that umbrella.

    “The president must be held accountable,” she continued. “No one is above the law.”

    A McCarthy spokesperson has not responded to Fox News’ request for comment.

    This article first appeared in American Liberty News. Republished with permission.

    DeSantis Asks Fox News Host To Tee Up Debate With Trump

    By
    Madeleine Jackson
    -
    4
    The White House from Washington, DC, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

    Ron DeSantis is issuing a challenge to his rival Donald Trump.

    On Wednesday, the Florida Governor and Republican presidential candidate Ron DeSantis asked Fox News anchor Sean Hannity to arrange a debate between himself and former President Donald Trump.

    Recently, Hannity moderated a long-awaited debate between DeSantis and California Gov. Gavin Newsom. The Fox anchor seemed to welcome the idea of a similar event involving Trump before asking if DeSantis was confident Joe Biden would be the Democrat party’s nominee for president.

    “Well, Sean, I don’t think we’ve spoken since that debate, and the reaction that I’ve gotten has been incredible in terms of obviously being able to show that freedom works and the California models of failure, what that means for the country. But people appreciated the way you set it up, and they said it was the most substantive debate that they’ve seen in this entire election cycle, and so kudos to you for doing it,” began DeSantis before throwing down the gauntlet. “So I’m glad we were able to get that done, and just know if you want to do other debates — Nikki Haley and me, I’m in, Donald Trump, and me, I’m in — so just say the word. You’ve shown that you can do it in a way that I think really helps the voters. So I’m game. Just let me know.”

    “Okay, those are two. Do you have any more on your list? Maybe Joe Manchin, He’s going on a two month tour. Anybody else on your list that you’d like to do?” replied an amused Hannity.

    Trump has dominated the polls and so far has refused to participate in any Republican primary debates.

    The surveys tested how Biden would perform against the Republican frontrunner — whom Biden defeated in the 2020 election — and found that Trump would beat him in Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin.

    Trump-Endorsed Candidate Launches Primary Challenge Against Massie

    By
    Madeleine Jackson
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    0

    Veteran Navy SEAL and businessman Ed Gallrein officially launched his campaign Tuesday to challenge Rep. Thomas Massie in Kentucky’s strongly Republican 4th Congressional District. With President Trump’s full endorsement, Gallrein declared:

    “This district is Trump Country. The President doesn’t need obstacles in Congress – he needs backup. I’ll defeat Thomas Massie, stand shoulder to shoulder with President Trump, and deliver the America First results Kentuckians voted for.”

    Indeed, Trump had already thrown his weight behind Gallrein in a Truth Social post on Friday:

    “I hope Ed gets into the Race against Massie, who is now polling at about 9% because the Great People of Kentucky are wise to him — He only votes against the Republican Party, making life very easy for the Radical Left.”
    “Unlike ‘lightweight’ Massie, a totally ineffective LOSER who has failed us so badly, CAPTAIN ED GALLREIN IS A WINNER WHO WILL NOT LET YOU DOWN.”

    Trump’s endorsement is the latest chapter in a bitter intra-party battle. Massie, a libertarian-leaning Republican, has diverged repeatedly from Trump’s agenda — most notably by breaking with the former president on major policy items, including the massive reconciliation package known as the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, and by teaming with progressive Rep. Ro Khanna (D–Calif.) to demand the release of files connected to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The split has sharpened over time into an explicit effort by Trump and his allies to unseat Massie.

    Massie responded to Trump’s move by slamming Gallrein:

    “After having been rejected by every elected official in the 4th District, Trump’s consultants clearly pushed the panic button with their choice of failed candidate and establishment hack Ed Gallrein.”

    Massie enters the race with more than $2 million cash on hand for his reelection bid and reported contributions of $768,000 from July to September. That level of fundraising shows he is not backing down.

    Kentucky’s 4th District is reliably Republican, meaning the winner of the GOP primary is extremely likely to win the general election. With President Trump’s base still the backbone of the party, his move to back Gallrein is a clear signal: he wants reliable allies in Congress who will advance the “America First” agenda without dissent.
    Massie’s independent streak—once an asset to those who prize policy purity—has now become a liability in the Trump era of the party. For Republicans concerned about unified action and legislative wins, the message is simple: stand with Trump or be replaced.

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    House Overwhelmingly Votes To Sink Trump Impeachment Effort

    By
    Madeleine Jackson
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    5
    Donald Trump via Gage Skidmore Flickr

    The House on Tuesday overwhelmingly voted to quash an effort by Rep. Al Green (D-Texas) to impeach President Trump over the U.S. strikes on Iran.

    The chamber voted 344-79 to table Green’s resolution, which charges Trump with abuse of power. One hundred-twenty eight Democrats voted with Republicans to table the measure.

    Green has sought for months to trigger a vote on impeaching Trump, slamming his handling of foreign and domestic policy issues.

    The congressman on Tuesday reupped that effort, filing a resolution accusing Trump of failing to seek authorization from Congress before striking three sites in Iran over the weekend, which Democrats have taken issue with.

    “In his conduct of the office of President of the United States, Donald J. Trump, in violation of his constitutional oath faithfully to execute the office of President of the United States and, to the best of his ability, preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States, and in violation of his constitutional duty to take care that the laws be faithfully executed, abused the powers of the presidency when he disregarded the doctrine of separation of powers by usurping Congress’s power to declare war and ordered the United States military to bomb another country without the constitutionally mandated congressional authorization or notice to Congress — cognizant of the fact that should another country’s military bomb a facility within the United States of America, it would be a de facto declaration of war against the United States of America,” the impeachment resolution reads.

    This is a breaking news story. Please check back for updates.

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    Trump Ally Kid Rock Jumps Into Key Governor’s Race With Major Endorsement

    By
    Madeleine Jackson
    -
    0
    By Petty Officer 1st Class Chad J. McNeeley - This image was released by the United States Navy with the ID 071220-N-0696M-280 (next).This tag does not indicate the copyright status of the attached work. A normal copyright tag is still required. See Commons:Licensing.العربية ∙ বাংলা ∙Bahaso Jambi ∙Deutsch ∙ Deutsch (Sie-Form) ∙ English ∙ español ∙ euskara ∙ فارسی ∙ français ∙ italiano ∙ 日本語 ∙ 한국어 ∙ македонски ∙ മലയാളം ∙ Plattdüütsch ∙ Nederlands ∙ polski ∙ پښتو ∙ português ∙ русский ∙ slovenščina ∙ svenska ∙ Türkçe ∙ українська ∙ 简体中文 ∙ 繁體中文 ∙ +/−photo essay http://www.defense.gov/photoessays/photoessayss.aspx?id=554, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=21467653

    Famed musician and outspoken patriot Kid Rock is throwing his support behind Republican Rep. John James in the high-stakes 2026 race to succeed term-limited Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer.

    The Michigan governor’s office is expected to be one of the top battlegrounds in next year’s midterm elections, as Republicans look to flip key leadership positions in a state that has become central to the national political fight over jobs, manufacturing, public safety, and the future direction of the country.

    Kid Rock, whose real name is Robert James Ritchie, offered his endorsement in a statement first shared with Fox News Digital on Sunday.

    “As our next Governor of Michigan, I know you will bring many victories to our GREAT STATE!” the entertainer said.

    John James, now serving his second term representing a competitive suburban Detroit congressional district, welcomed the support from the Michigan-born star.

    “Kid Rock is a good friend. We share our love for Detroit, the state of Michigan and the United States of America!” James said.

    “I’m honored to have the endorsement of this unapologetic freedom-loving patriot and I look forward to working with him and every other Michigander to make Michigan great again!” added James, a West Point graduate, Iraq War veteran, businessman, and former Republican nominee for U.S. Senate in both 2018 and 2020.

    Kid Rock’s backing comes at a pivotal moment as Republicans seek to regain momentum in Michigan after years of Democrat control in Lansing. Conservatives argue the state needs a return to strong leadership focused on economic growth, protecting constitutional freedoms, and standing up to the progressive agenda that has dominated under Whitmer.

    A Cultural Moment for Conservatives

    Kid Rock’s endorsement arrived just hours before the singer headlined Turning Point USA’s “All-American Halftime Show” during the Super Bowl — an event that drew nearly five million viewers and offered an alternative to the NFL’s increasingly politicized entertainment choices.

    The show also featured a tribute to Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk. As Kid Rock finished a song, the screen displayed:

    “In remembrance of Charlie Kirk,” alongside photos of Charlie’s wife Erika and their children.

    Kid Rock has long been a prominent supporter of President Donald Trump, backing him in all three of his presidential campaigns. He performed his hit “American Bad Ass” at the 2024 Republican National Convention with lyrics altered to highlight his support for Trump and the America First movement.

    Trump, whose influence over the Republican Party remains unmatched, has not yet endorsed anyone in Michigan’s gubernatorial race. However, James has positioned himself as one of Trump’s most consistent allies.

    A release from James’s campaign emphasized that “John James has stood with President Trump consistently since 2018, and every subsequent election, maintaining a clear and steady alignment when others backed his opponents, ran against him, or stayed silent.”

    Did you miss the halftime show? Tune in below to watch:

    Shared Detroit Roots and a Pro-Worker Message

    The campaign also highlighted the bond between Kid Rock and James, noting that both share “deep Detroit roots and a common view of Michigan as a state defined by hard work, manufacturing, culture, and natural beauty — from the Great Lakes to the communities that power the Midwest economy.”

    James has built his political brand around economic opportunity, strengthening American manufacturing, supporting law enforcement, and pushing back against Washington overreach — themes that resonate strongly with Michigan’s working-class voters.

    Crowded Republican Field, Clear Front-Runner

    James currently stands as the clear polling front-runner in a crowded Republican primary field ahead of the August nominating contest.

    Other GOP candidates include:

    • Former Michigan Attorney General Mike Cox
    • Michigan Senate Minority Leader Aric Nesbitt
    • Former state House Speaker Mike Leonard
    • Businessman Perry Johnson, who previously made a longshot bid for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination

    On the Democratic side, Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson is widely viewed as the front-runner among three candidates competing for her party’s nomination.

    Michigan in the National Spotlight

    With Michigan expected to play a major role in shaping the future of the Midwest — and possibly the country — the governor’s race is drawing intense national attention. Republicans see 2026 as a chance to restore conservative leadership in a state long known for its manufacturing strength, blue-collar values, and patriotic spirit.

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    Trump Holds Back 2028 Endorsement As Vance Succession Talk Heats Up

    By
    Madeleine Jackson
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    0
    The White House, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

    President Donald Trump is keeping the race to inherit his political movement wide open—for now.

    Trump stopped short of endorsing Vice President JD Vance for president in 2028 when reporters confronted him about the Republican Party’s future leadership at Shannon International Airport in Ireland.

    Asked whether he was ready to “throw his weight” behind Vance, Trump quickly pumped the brakes.

    “It’s too early. I mean, it’s too early. I think he’s terrific. There’s so many terrific people,” Trump responded.

    When pressed about who could compete with Vance, the president again praised his vice president while declining to place him above the rest of the potential Republican field.

    Trump said the GOP has several strong prospective candidates, adding that Vance is “fantastic” and has performed well as vice president. The exchange was captured in an official White House video recorded before Trump departed Ireland.

    Trump Keeps His Options Open

    The answer was hardly a rejection of Vance, but it fell short of the coveted endorsement that could give the vice president a significant early advantage in the Republican primary.

    Trump’s comments also reinforced a message he has delivered before: He is not prepared to formally crown a successor nearly two years before the next presidential election.

    That caution could preserve Trump’s influence over a potentially crowded field while preventing the 2028 contest from distracting Republicans ahead of November’s midterm elections.

    The president has offered praise to several possible contenders, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas). When asked about Cruz’s possible presidential ambitions in August, Trump called the senator “very talented” and said he believed Cruz might enter the race, according to the Daily Caller.

    Vance Emerges As A Leading Contender

    The president’s latest remarks came days after Vance received an enthusiastic reception at the Republican midterm convention in Dallas.

    Vance used his convention appearance to defend the Trump administration’s record, urge unity among conservatives and position himself as a leading voice for the next generation of the MAGA movement. Attendees interviewed by the New York Post described the vice president as prepared to carry Trump’s political agenda forward.

    Vance, however, has yet to announce a presidential campaign.

    During a June interview with CBS News, he said he and second lady Usha Vance would discuss their future after the 2026 midterms. Vance also said he expected Trump to support whatever decision he ultimately made, although the two had not held a detailed conversation about a prospective campaign.

    “I try not to make [decisions] until I absolutely must,” Vance told CBS News.

    Mixed Signals From Trump

    Trump has sent conflicting signals about whether Vance is already his preferred successor.

    The Washington Post previously reported that Trump told donors during a private Oval Office meeting that Republicans would eventually need to elect Vance. The president subsequently disputed that account when questioned by the Daily Caller, saying it remained far too early to settle on a candidate.

    Trump has also reportedly asked advisers to compare Vance with Rubio, underscoring that the president continues to weigh the strengths of multiple possible contenders.

    Rubio has publicly attempted to cool speculation about a rivalry. During a May interview with NBC News, the secretary of state said he would support Vance if the vice president entered the race.

    For the moment, Vance remains prominently positioned—but Trump appears determined to make him wait for the endorsement that could reshape the entire 2028 Republican contest.

    Report: Youngkin’s Trump White House Hopes Dim After Virginia Setback

    By
    Patrick Houck
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    1
    President Donald Trump signs Executive Orders, Thursday, April 17, 2025, in the Oval Office. (Official White House Photo by Molly Riley)

    The political fallout from Virginia’s redistricting referendum is reaching beyond the state, cutting into Glenn Youngkin’s standing at a moment that matters for his future.

    In recent weeks, the former governor had been floated as a possible pick for a Trump administration role, with secretary of labor among the positions mentioned. He was seen as a Republican who could point to a win in a blue-leaning state and bring a different profile into a national cabinet.

    That window now looks narrower.

    Timing Undercuts Momentum

    The criticism from inside GOP circles is landing at a particularly inconvenient time for Youngkin.

    According to Politico’s Dasha Burns, administration officials are blaming him for not doing enough to stop the redistricting measure, which passed by a slim margin and could shift up to four House seats toward Democrats. It’s the kind of loss that gets noticed in Washington, especially when control of the House is on the line.

    And it’s not just about the outcome. It’s about perception.

    A senior official, speaking anonymously, put it bluntly: “He doesn’t have enough friends here.” That comment points to a problem that goes beyond one referendum. It suggests Youngkin lacks the internal support that often decides who gets a seat at the table.

    Burns continues:

    Becca Glover, executive director of Youngkin’s Spirit of Virginia PAC, defended the former governor’s efforts, noting he raised and contributed nearly $500,000 to Virginians for Fair Maps and supported the Congressional Leadership Fund and Fair Maps’ fundraising efforts.

    “The governor hit the campaign trail making many stops across the Commonwealth from Wise to Virginia Beach to Leesburg to motivate the grassroots to vote no,” Glover said. “He was proud to be part of a team including Speaker [Mike] Johnson and other former governors to get out the vote.”

    Glover also pointed to the dozens of interviews Youngkin did and his efforts at retail campaigning.

    “He continues to ask that the Supreme Court of Virginia to strike down this unconstitutional power grab,” Glover said.

    A source briefed on White House discussions pushed back, saying Youngkin’s actions helped set the stage for the current difficulties facing him and his party in Virginia.

    “Look, there’s plenty of blame to go around. But if Youngkin hadn’t left the special session open, Louise Lucas would never have had the chance to ram through those maps,” the person said, referring to the Democratic state senator who played a key role in advancing the redistricting effort. “So he has some responsibility for losing these seats.”

    From Rising Star to Question Mark

    Youngkin’s appeal to national Republicans has always been tied to his 2021 victory and his ability to win in a competitive state without fully leaning into Trump-style politics.

    But that brand cuts both ways.

    Inside a Trump-aligned orbit, relationships and loyalty still carry more weight than résumé lines. Another loss in Virginia, even one tied to a ballot measure, gives skeptics more reason to question how much influence Youngkin really has, both at home and in the broader party.

    That matters when administration roles are being discussed behind closed doors.

    Fewer Openings, More Competition

    Even under the best conditions, cabinet-level positions are limited and highly competitive. Candidates need more than a strong narrative. They need advocates inside the administration willing to push their case.

    Right now, the signals suggest Youngkin doesn’t have that backing.

    The criticism tied to the referendum may not be decisive on its own. But combined with lingering doubts about his connections in Washington, it adds friction at the worst possible time.

    READ NEXT: Indicted Democrat Who Resigned From Congress Plans Reelection Bid

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

    By
    Madeleine Jackson
    -
    0

    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.

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