As Memorial Day honors the nation's fallen, the political landscape for Republicans grows increasingly perilous. With the midterm election less than six months away, President Trump's personal grievances are undermining the party's chances of holding the Senate.
Trump's obsession with settling scores has already cost Republicans a reliable vote in Louisiana. Senator Bill Cassidy, a physician known for his steady demeanor, lost his primary on May 16. While the seat will likely stay Republican, the message is clear: loyalty to Trump matters more than constitutional principle.
The president's political vendettas are escalating. After a successful push in Indiana, where six Trump-backed challengers ousted incumbent state senators who resisted his redistricting demands, Trump turned his fire on Representative Thomas Massie in Kentucky. With tens of millions in outside spending, Trump's campaign succeeded on May 19. That same day, the president endorsed Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton over incumbent Senator John Cornyn in tomorrow's primary runoff. Trump went all in for Paxton, blasting Cornyn as disloyal.
Paxton's ethical record is a liability. He faces ongoing legal troubles, and calling him “ethically challenged” is generous. Republicans will need to spend millions to get him through November—money that won't help candidates in Michigan or Ohio. The GOP's hold on the Senate is now more fragile than before Trump's irrational, score-settling endorsement.
I spent 40 years trying to elect Republicans in difficult states like Maryland. Leaders like Larry Hogan understood they represented constituents, not a short-tempered politician. The old motto was “A good Republican is an elected Republican,” built on inclusion and addition. That philosophy is dead in today's White House.
Revenge and loyalty tests based on one self-centered individual won't broaden the party's appeal. A May 20 AP-NORC poll shows 28% of Republicans disapprove of Trump's job performance. A Fox News poll finds 71% disapprove of his handling of the economy. Atlas Intel reports Democrats with a 15-point advantage on the generic ballot. Those numbers spell disaster.
To prosper, Republicans must return to principles: smaller government, lower taxes, individual freedom, and peace through strength. That would exclude Trump as he is today—focused on legacy and revenge. Trump used a Memorial Day wreath-laying to attack Democrats over the military, a stark reminder of his priorities.
Meanwhile, hardworking Americans struggle with rising gas prices, tariff-induced costs, and inflation. Trump seems more focused on plastering his name on Washington. Come November, those voters will head to the polls—and that should terrify Republican candidates across the country.
