Trump Targets ‘Disloyal’ Bill Cassidy in Heated Louisiana GOP Senate Primary/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Sen. Bill Cassidy is battling for political survival in Louisiana’s Republican Senate primary against Trump-backed Rep. Julia Letlow. President Donald Trump blasted Cassidy as “disloyal” over his impeachment vote and clashes over vaccine policy. The race has become another major test of Trump’s influence over the Republican Party.
Louisiana Senate Primary Quick Looks
- Trump endorsed Rep. Julia Letlow against Sen. Bill Cassidy
- Cassidy voted to convict Trump after Jan. 6 impeachment trial
- Trump called Cassidy “a disloyal disaster”
- State Treasurer John Fleming also running in GOP primary
- Runoff scheduled for June 27 if no candidate wins majority
- Cassidy has heavily outspent rivals in advertising
- Confusion over delayed congressional primaries may affect turnout
- Race seen as key test of Trump’s control over GOP
Deep Look
Trump Escalates Attack on Bill Cassidy in Louisiana Senate Primary
President Donald Trump intensified his effort to remove Republican lawmakers he views as disloyal by targeting Louisiana Sen. Bill Cassidy ahead of Saturday’s Republican Senate primary.
Trump endorsed Republican Rep. Julia Letlow in an unusual attempt to defeat a sitting GOP senator, highlighting Cassidy’s vote to convict him during his second impeachment trial following the Jan. 6 Capitol attack.
On Saturday morning, Trump unleashed another public attack on Cassidy on social media, calling him:
- “A disloyal disaster”
- “A terrible guy”
- A senator who “is going to get CLOBBERED”
Trump praised Letlow as “a winner who will NEVER let you down.”
Cassidy Fighting for Political Survival
Cassidy, a physician and longtime Louisiana Republican, has spent months trying to convince conservative voters he still deserves reelection despite his break with Trump.
Political consultant Mary-Patricia Wray said the senator’s chances have improved slightly in recent months despite Trump’s dominance in Louisiana politics.
“Four months ago I would have told you it’s impossible for Cassidy to win this,” Wray said. “I still think it’s statistically unlikely, but no longer impossible.”
The primary also includes Louisiana State Treasurer John Fleming, another conservative Republican and strong Trump ally.
If no candidate wins more than 50% of the vote, the top candidates will advance to a June 27 runoff.
Trump Loyalty Central Issue in Race
The race has become heavily defined by loyalty to Trump.
Cassidy’s 2021 impeachment vote continues to haunt him among Republican voters in the state.
Some voters interviewed by AP said Trump’s endorsement alone was enough to sway their decision toward Letlow.
One Louisiana voter, John Martin, said:
“If she’s endorsed by Trump, I’m going to believe that.”
Meanwhile, other Republicans expressed frustration that Letlow emphasized loyalty to Trump over independence.
RFK Jr. Vote Also Hurt Cassidy With Conservatives
Cassidy’s relationship with Trump deteriorated further after his role in confirming Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
Though Cassidy publicly questioned Kennedy’s anti-vaccine views, he ultimately voted to support the nomination.
Some conservatives believed Cassidy should have opposed Kennedy more aggressively, while Trump allies remained angry about Cassidy’s impeachment vote.
Trump later blamed Cassidy for helping derail his preferred surgeon general nominee Casey Means after concerns about vaccine policies surfaced.
Massive Spending Battle Shapes Campaign
Cassidy has relied heavily on campaign advertising in an effort to overcome Trump’s influence.
According to ad-tracking firm AdImpact:
- Cassidy campaign spending reached roughly $9.6 million
- Pro-Cassidy super PAC spending topped $12 million
- Letlow campaign spending totaled about $3.9 million
- Pro-Letlow groups spent roughly $6 million
- Fleming spent about $1.5 million
Cassidy allies also attacked Letlow over past support for diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives while she worked in higher education administration.
The attacks attempted to portray Letlow as insufficiently conservative despite Trump’s endorsement.
Election Confusion Could Impact Turnout
The race has also been complicated by Louisiana’s recent election schedule changes.
Following a Supreme Court decision weakening parts of the Voting Rights Act, state officials delayed congressional primaries to redraw district maps.
However, the Senate primary remained on schedule.
Analysts warned the unusual split could confuse voters and potentially lower turnout among less politically engaged Republicans.
Cassidy himself criticized the state’s new voting process, saying some voters struggled to understand how to request partisan ballots.
“The process that was set up was destined to be confusing,” Cassidy said.
Julia Letlow’s Rapid Political Rise
Letlow entered the race only after Trump endorsed her earlier this year.
Her political career began under tragic circumstances.
Her husband, Luke Letlow, won election to Congress in 2020 but died from COVID-19 complications before taking office.
Julia Letlow later won a special election for the seat in 2021 and has since been reelected twice.
Another Major Test of Trump’s Republican Control
The Louisiana race has become one of the clearest examples yet of Trump’s continued effort to reshape the Republican Party around personal loyalty.
A victory for Letlow would reinforce Trump’s influence over GOP primaries heading into the 2026 midterm elections.
A Cassidy survival, however unlikely, could signal limits to Trump’s power in races involving longtime incumbents with strong political infrastructure.
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