"Donald Trump's efforts to assert total control over his party despite his sinking overall popularity achieved a landmark victory on Saturday with the resounding defeat of two-term Republican senator Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, who had the temerity to vote to convict Trump of impeachable offenses in 2021. Now the president and his allies are eager to reinforce the loyalty lesson by purging rebellious GOP congressman Thomas Massie in Kentucky's primary tomorrow."
"Dr. Cassidy didn't just lose. He ran an abject third in a primary with three viable candidates. Trump endorsee and congresswoman Julia Letlow will face another MAGA champion, former congressman and state treasurer (and like Cassidy, a physician) John Fleming, in a June 27 runoff. Cassidy, whose alleged betrayal of Trump after the January 6 Capitol riot was compounded by his on-again off-again conflicts with Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s MAHA movement, became the first incumbent senator to finish lower than second place in a primary since 1944."
"Massie is the next presidential intraparty target. The fiery libertarian-ish hardline conservative has been a regular thorn in the side to Trump and to his congressional allies for years. In March 2020, Trump called on his supporters to "throw Massie out of the Republican Party" because the Kentuckian was obstructing a Trump-backed COVID-relief package in the House. But during Trump's second term, the rift with Massie has gotten a lot more personal."
"He is often the sole House GOP member to split with his party on key votes, including his lonely opposition to last year's signature One Big Beautiful Bill Act. He has regularly opposed Trump's overseas military adventures, most notably the Iran war. And most pointedly, Massie was a key figure in the congressional maneuver that forced disclosure of the Epstein files. Unsurprisingly, Trump handpicked a primary challenger to Massie - farmer and distinguished war veteran Ed Gallrein - and personally campaigned in Kentucky, ca"
Donald Trump secured a major victory by defeating two-term Republican senator Bill Cassidy of Louisiana in a primary. Cassidy finished third among three viable candidates, marking the first time an incumbent senator placed below second in a primary since 1944. The loss is tied to Cassidy’s vote to convict Trump of impeachable offenses in 2021 and to later conflicts involving Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s MAHA movement. Trump and allies now aim to reinforce loyalty by targeting GOP congressman Thomas Massie in Kentucky’s primary. Massie has repeatedly opposed Trump and congressional allies, including blocking a Trump-backed COVID-relief package, voting against major legislation, opposing overseas military actions, and helping force disclosure of Epstein files. Trump has backed a challenger, Ed Gallrein, and campaigned in Kentucky.
Read at Intelligencer
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]