Another Trump-backed candidate has won the primaries, but will his revenge tour backfire?

From a $1.8-billion fund for Donald Trump’s allies, which some critics call the “MAGA slush fund,” to retaliate against Republicans who have maligned him, the US president is pushing his agenda amid falling approval ratings and looming midterm elections.

On Tuesday night, disgraced Ken Paxton, who was endorsed by Trump last year, defeated four-term US Senator John Cornyn for the Republican Senate nomination.

And last week, Thomas Massie, who led the congressional debate on the bill that forced the release of Jeffrey Epstein’s files, lost the Kentucky primary after Trump supported his opponent, Ed Gallrein. Trump publicly disparaged Massie, calling him out “big sleazebag.”

Additionally, Trump announced the Anti-Arms Fund, which is a product of Trump’s formal agreement with the US Internal Revenue Service (IRS). Critics call it a “MAGA slush fund,” which could be used by people prosecuted for crimes related to the 2021 attack on the US Capitol.

Even some Republicans are criticizing the move, like Sen. Mitch McConnell, who called it “absolutely stupid” and “morally wrong.”

This week it continues Two blocks from the White HouseWashington reporters Katie Simpson, Paul Hunter and Louis Blouin ask: How far can Donald Trump go before paying the political price?

We’ve included the best photos below, sorted by height and clarity. For the full interview follow the podcast here: Spotify | Apple | CBC Listen | All podcast apps | YouTube

Louis Blouin: The question for me is, is this the right bet to get into in supporting loyal MAGA Trump voters, when the next fall voters will make the difference – which will make this election – balance.

Paul Hunter: It seems that the most important thing for Trump is that he has loyalists, no matter how that plays out.

Louis Blouin: But that doesn’t speak to the independents and allies who will have an important voice in those purple states, and purple races, purple states, the people who will sway the election. Now Trump says to them: No, I’m going hard Trump honest, MAGA. So is that a good decision for the team? I wonder, Paul, if President Trump becomes his worst enemy with this.

Paul Hunter We will find out. I’m not saying that to avoid the question because no one really understands what his strategy is in this case. Like, what is his real thinking? Is it to make him feel better that he has loyal people around him?

It’s as if Trump and his advisers have concluded that they can do whatever they want, right? And when they win, they win. And if they lose on anything, if they lose, they lose. But when they win, they win. And they’ve generally been winning, from their point of view, I guess you could argue. But it’s like they have decided, there are no strings attached to us. Whether it’s a workaround or a loophole or some kind of thing, wherever it’s written down, they can find a way and they can do it. He seems to believe that nothing is stopping him.

Louis Blouin And I know it’s a very difficult question, but like, do you care about the future of the team? Because after that, if he doesn’t do well in November, he can say: Well, my name was not on the ballot. I’ve been able to get those wins before and you guys can’t. And you know, that’s not my problem.