Sen. Bill Cassidy Loses Louisiana Primary After Opposing Trump

Added: 2026-05-22

[00:00:00]Let's begin this morning with the latest sign of President Trump's continued control of the Republican Party.

[00:00:05]Two-term Republican Senator Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, an occasional thorn in the president's side, losing his primary on Saturday. NBC's Julie Tsirkin is at the White House with more. Julie, good morning.

[00:00:18]Willie, good morning. A resounding defeat overnight in Louisiana for Bill Cassidy, who lost his Senate seat, as you said, in Saturday's primary election after 11 years. Cassidy voted to convict President Trump for his actions on January 6th, defying his party and its leader, who is celebrating yet another win on his revenge tour. President Trump calling Cassidy a quote disloyal disaster and congratulating Congresswoman Julia Letlow, who now heads to a June runoff against former Congressman John Fleming. Cassidy appeared to refer to the president in his concession speech, but not by name.

[00:00:51]When you participate in democracy, sometimes it don't turn out the way you want it to.

[00:00:57]But you don't pout.

[00:00:58]You don't whine. You don't claim the election was stolen. You don't find A REASON WHY NOW, WILLIE, TRUMP HAS been on a mission to take out his political rivals, and he already has his sights set on Tuesday's primary in Kentucky's 4th congressional district. He hand-picked Ed Gallrein, a political unknown, to take out eight-term Congressman Thomas Massie.

[00:01:21]And overnight, Trump called the libertarian a quote even bigger insult to the nation than Cassidy. Massie told me he has no regrets about being an independent voice, openly opposing several of the president's priorities.

[00:01:32]Willie, his race in northern Kentucky has become the most expensive House primary in history.

[00:01:39]We will be watching. Julie Tsirkin at the White House this morning. Julie, thank you. Hey, thanks for watching. And don't forget you can catch the Today show every morning on NBC or take Today when you're on the go. Just follow the Today podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen.