Republican candidates snubbed by President Trump for primary endorsements have found a workaround: Act like he endorsed them anyway.
Why it matters: Trump's approval numbers are sagging but he still dominates the GOP, using endorsements to reward allies, punish detractors and reinforce his vise-like grip on the party.
Zoom in: It's a dynamic that has led Republicans in races nationwide to covet Trump's blessing, tout his endorsement — and appear a bit misleading when they don't get it.
- It's reached a point where Republican operatives worry about voters backing candidates they wrongly believe have the president's support.
Trump's operation was alarmed enough over a situation in southwest Texas that it recently sent a cease-and-desist letter to congressional candidate Brandon Herrera, accusing him of deceptively editing an image in a campaign mailer to make it look like he was in a photo with Trump.
- Trump has endorsed Herrera's primary opponent, the embattled GOP Rep. Tony Gonzales.
- Several House Republicans have called on Gonzales to resign amid allegations he sent sexually explicit text messages to a former staffer, who later died by suicide.
- But for now at least, Trump is backing Gonzales.
Other Trump-shunned candidates who nevertheless are touting their ties to him include:
1. Louisiana Sen. Bill Cassidy
Cassidy — who voted to convict Trump over his role in instigating the Jan. 6 Capitol riot — is the only Republican senator Trump's team is targeting for defeat this primary season.
- Trump has endorsed GOP Rep. Julia Letlow in the race, but you wouldn't know it from watching Cassidy's campaign ads.
- One ad spotlights an image of Cassidy standing behind Trump as the president signed an anti-fentanyl bill that Cassidy co-sponsored.
- Another focuses on his efforts to combat illegal border crossings. "I worked with President Trump to shut this down," Cassidy says, as a picture of Trump appears onscreen.
2. Former Georgia state Sen. Colton Moore
During a visit to Georgia last week, Trump called U.S. House candidate Clayton Fuller on stage and reaffirmed his support for the local district attorney in an upcoming special election.
- "We wanna vote for Clay. He's going to take it home," Trump said.
But Moore, a Fuller rival, is calling himself Trump's "#1 Defender" in the race.
- Moore is heavily promoting his role in backing Trump's unproven claims of voter fraud in the 2020 election in Georgia.
- He's also highlighting his push to investigate Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis for prosecuting Trump for allegedly interfering in the state's 2020 vote count. (Moore eventually was suspended by the state Senate's GOP caucus over the effort.)
- Moore is airing a TV ad that shows a picture of him and Trump grinning side by side, and includes a clip of Trump saying Moore "deserves thanks."
3. North Dakota's Alex Balazs
Balazs, who's waging a primary challenge to Trump-endorsed Rep. Julie Fedorchak, last week posted on social media a video of him taking a mock phone call from the president.
- "You're too kind, sir. I appreciate you saying that ... Yes, sir, I do think I'm the only one with the experience to be North Dakota's congressman," Balazs says into the phone.
- "I appreciate all the support, I really do," Balazs adds.
Balazs later told the Bismarck Tribune that the call was a "joke."
What they're saying: Trump spokespeople did not respond to requests for comment.
- Representatives for Cassidy, Moore, Herrera and Balazs also did not respond to inquiries from Axios.
The big picture: Trump and his team have been here before.
- During the 2022 midterms, his aides repeatedly swatted down candidates they perceived as falsely insinuating they had Trump's support.
Trump has plenty of tools at his disposal to clarify who has his backing, and who doesn't.
- His cash-flush political operation can run ads highlighting his endorsements.
- And he's expected to ramp up appearances to promote his favorite candidates, whom he often praises on his Truth Social account.
Top Republicans warn false claims about Trump's backing can backfire.
- "It's all fun and games until Trump uses his Truth Social account and megaphone to blast the candidate who has seemingly claimed support from him without actually getting it," one GOP operative told Axios.
