Trump's got a warning for GOP candidates who might cross him
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President Trump sent wayward Republicans a loud message last week: Cross me at your own peril.
Why it matters: Trump's eleventh-hour decision to endorse Republican Matt Van Epps in a contested Tennessee House primary — which vaulted Van Epps to a lopsided win — showed he has the power to decide GOP primaries with a single post on his Truth Social account.
- The president endorsed Van Epps on the afternoon of Oct. 3, just four days before the primary.
- The move was risky. Just prior to Trump's announcement, his advisers had reviewed polling conducted by senior Trump strategist Tony Fabrizio showing Van Epps trailing a rival Republican candidate, Jody Barrett, by 4 percentage points.
The big picture: Barrett had the support of the House Freedom Caucus' political arm and country music star John Rich, who lives in Nashville.
- But Trump wanted to weigh in for Van Epps, who has been more consistently supportive of Trump than Barrett has.
- Top allies, including Ohio Rep. Jim Jordan and Club for Growth president David McIntosh, also lobbied the president to endorse Van Epps.
It paid off. Van Epps ended up winning by 26 points — a major shift from the four-point deficit he faced in the pre-primary poll.
- Trump's endorsement became the centerpiece of Van Epps' campaign during the final days of the contest. A pro-Van Epps super PAC began running a TV ad promoting Trump's endorsement the day after the president announced it.
What they're saying: "The impact of President Trump and his endorsement in Republican primaries was on full display last week," said Tennessee-based GOP strategist Ward Baker. "It's clear President Trump's endorsement was decisive in this race."
The intrigue: Trump's decision to wade into the primary shows he is willing to engage in seriously contested GOP nomination fights.
- So far, the president has only announced his opposition to one Republican member of Congress — Rep. Thomas Massie. The Kentucky lawmaker is soliciting signatures on a discharge petition to unseal files related to the government's Jeffrey Epstein probe.
- But with filing deadlines still open, Trump could conceivably jump into other primaries and punish Republicans who defy him.
The president is keenly aware of the Republicans who are opposing his agenda, say people familiar with his thinking.
- That includes the members of the House Freedom Caucus, whose ranks include several lawmakers who expressed resistance to Trump's "big, beautiful bill" before ultimately supporting it.
What to watch: Trump remarked during a recent Rose Garden dinner for Republican members of Congress that the night's invitees were lawmakers whose support he could count on.
- Attendees perceived that as a jab at the Freedom Caucus, whose members were not present.
The president has also faced pushback as of late from Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) over a smattering of issues, including his administration's handling of the Epstein files.
- Republican Reps. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.) and Lauren Boebert (R-Colo.) have also called on Trump to release additional files in the case.
Yes, but: Trump allies say there are currently no plans in the works to defeat additional GOP lawmakers.
