A typical White House political operation might check in with congressional leaders, and relay concerns about a candidate quietly, allowing any issues about loyalty to the president to be resolved behind closed doors.
But Trump is unconventional. The incoming president hasn’t hesitated to jab at members of his own party, either during a political rally or on social media, especially those that crossed him in the contentious 2016 campaign.
That dynamic is forcing Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., and Sen. Cory Gardner of Colorado, the National Republican Senatorial Committee chairman, to take pre-emptive action to protect the incumbents and prized recruits they believe are best positioned to pick off Democrats in the midterm elections.
The last thing they want is for Trump to urge Republican voters in those races to support another candidate in the GOP primary, just because their prized recruit might not have been as supportive of the president in 2016.
Join the Conversation
VIP members get the ability to comment on articles.