Former President Donald Trump launched a blistering attack on Senator Bill Cassidy (R-La.) on Saturday, branding the incumbent a “disloyal disaster” as Louisiana voters head to the polls for a high-stakes primary election that could reshape the state’s GOP delegation.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump wrote: “Bill Cassidy is a sleazebag, a terrible guy, who is BAD FOR LOUISIANA. Now he’s going to get CLOBBERED, hopefully, in today’s BIG election, by two great people!!!” The former president’s broadside underscores the deepening rift between Trump and Cassidy, a rift that began when Cassidy voted to convict Trump during his second impeachment trial over the January 6, 2021, Capitol attack.
Trump’s Endorsements and the Primary Field
Trump has thrown his weight behind two challengers: Representative Julia Letlow (R-La.) and Louisiana State Treasurer John Fleming. Letlow, whom Trump encouraged to enter the race, and Fleming are both vying for the GOP nomination in a contest that has become a proxy battle for Trump’s influence within the party. The former president’s endorsements have been a mixed bag in recent cycles, but his track record in primaries remains formidable.
According to a recent Emerson College poll, Cassidy trails both challengers, garnering just 21 percent support among likely Republican voters. Fleming leads with 28 percent, followed closely by Letlow at 27 percent. The numbers suggest Cassidy faces an uphill battle to retain his seat, a seat he has held since 2015 after serving in the House.
From Ally to Target
Trump’s relationship with Cassidy has soured dramatically since the 2020 election. Trump endorsed Cassidy in his 2020 Senate race, but the senator’s impeachment vote—the second of Trump’s presidency—proved a breaking point. Trump’s post on Truth Social revisited that betrayal: “His entire past campaign for the Senate was about ‘TRUMP,’ how he’s with me all the way, and then, after winning, he turned around and voted to IMPEACH me for something that has now proven to be total ‘bulls—!’ He knew that at the time, but didn’t care.”
Cassidy, for his part, has tried to mend fences. Last week, he told reporters, “I don’t really think President Trump likes me that much, but we work really well together,” pointing to several bills he has shepherded that Trump signed into law. Yet Trump’s rhetoric suggests little appetite for reconciliation.
The former president’s vendetta extends beyond Louisiana. He has also endorsed a primary challenger to Representative Thomas Massie (R-Ky.), calling Massie a “disaster for our party” at a March rally. This pattern of targeting Republicans who cross him has become a hallmark of Trump’s post-presidency political strategy, testing his grip on the GOP base.
National Implications
Saturday’s primary will serve as a bellwether for Trump’s enduring influence. His recent moves on the world stage—including raising the Jimmy Lai case with Chinese President Xi Jinping and wavering on the Taiwan defense pledge—have drawn attention, but his focus on domestic political retribution remains sharp. Trump urged Louisiana residents to “please get out and VOTE!!! MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!” while touting the strength of his endorsements.
The outcome in Louisiana will not only decide Cassidy’s fate but also signal whether Trump’s backing can still tip the scales in contested primaries. For Cassidy, a win would be a stunning rebuke of Trump’s influence; a loss would mark the end of a Senate career that once aligned closely with the former president.
As polls close Saturday evening, all eyes will be on the Pelican State to see if Trump’s “disloyal disaster” label sticks—or if Cassidy can defy the odds and survive the primary gauntlet.
