For nearly a decade, President Donald Trump has prided himself as a GOP kingmaker, bestowing his “Complete and Total Endorsement” on hundreds of his preferred candidates and, usually, watching them sail to victory.
That was not the case Tuesday night, when three of Trump’s endorsed candidates lost their Republican primaries, including two in the president’s home state of Florida.
So far, 10 Trump-endorsed candidates have lost their 2026 races, nearly tying his worst year in 2022 when 11 candidates he endorsed lost, as noted by CNN reporter Aaron Blake.
On Wednesday morning, Trump appeared to minimize his support for one of his endorsed candidates who lost.
“I told Congressman Cory Mills of Florida, a friend of mine, to get out of the Race, but he wouldn’t listen. He thought he could win, so who can blame him?” Trump posted on Truth Social.
In the same post, Trump swiftly pivoted to touting Ryan Elijah, who defeated Mills on Tuesday in the GOP primary for Florida’s 7th Congressional District.
“Ryan stands for EVERYTHING MAGA, and is respected by ALL,” Trump wrote. “He has my Complete and Total Endorsement!”
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