WASHINGTON: U.S. President Donald Trump has thrown his weight behind a possible primary challenge to Louisiana Senator Bill Cassidy, endorsing Republican Congresswoman Julia Letlow should she decide to contest the seat.
Trump made the endorsement late Saturday via his Truth Social account, praising Letlow and promising his full political support if she enters the race.
Should she decide to enter this race, Julia Letlow, has my complete and total endorsement. RUN, JULIA, RUN!!! Trump wrote.
Cassidy, who is seeking a third term in the Senate, has long had a strained relationship with Trump and his political base.
He was one of seven Republican senators who voted to convict Trump during his impeachment trial following the January 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol a decision that continues to attract criticism from Trump allies.
Tensions between Cassidy and the administration have also emerged over health policy. Although Cassidy cast the deciding vote to advance Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s nomination as Secretary of Health and Human Services earlier this year, he voiced strong reservations over Kennedy’s skepticism about vaccines.
Cassidy later said he supported the nomination after receiving what he described as serious commitments from the administration.
However, he has since publicly disagreed with Kennedy on several issues, including calls to delay vaccine advisory meetings and opposition to changes in the hepatitis B vaccination schedule for infants.
Despite the rift, Cassidy has repeatedly highlighted areas of cooperation with the administration.
As chairman of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions, he helped push a Republican-backed healthcare proposal aimed at lowering costs a plan that Trump promoted as an alternative to extending insurance tax credits championed by Democrats.
Responding to Trump’s endorsement, Cassidy said he remains confident of winning re-election.
I’m proudly running for re-election as a principled conservative who gets things done for the people of Louisiana, he said in a post on X. If Congresswoman Letlow decides to run, I am confident I will win.
Letlow, who has yet to formally announce a Senate bid, became the first Republican woman elected to represent Louisiana in Congress in 2021.
She won a special election for the state’s 5th Congressional District following the death of her husband, Luke Letlow, who died from COVID-19 complications before he could be sworn into office.
Thanking Trump for the endorsement, Letlow described the moment as an honour and suggested she is weighing her options.
I’m honoured to have President Trump’s endorsement and trust, she said. This Senate seat belongs to the people of Louisiana, and they deserve conservative leadership that will not waver.
If Letlow enters the race, Trump’s endorsement is expected to dramatically reshape the Republican primary contest ahead of the 2026 Senate elections.
