Trump’s biggest power over GOP 'doesn’t work' like it used to: Rick Wilson

Conservative commentator Rick Wilson said that President Donald Trump's biggest leverage over Republicans "doesn't work" as it used to, after one of his most devoted supporters went down in flames this week.

Rep. Andy Ogles, a Tennessee Republican, lost his reelection bid after falling to primary challenger Charlie Hatcher in the race for the GOP nomination. Despite Ogles' checkered past full of controversy and questionable statements, this result was still something of a surprise, considering that he was endorsed by Trump, a distinction that is often seen as make-or-break for Republican candidates.

Wilson dug into this story during the most recent episode of the "Fast Politics" podcast with host Molly Jong-Fast. He argued that Ogles' loss was more evidence that Trump's endorsements, which he has long wielded against Republicans to keep them in line, are not as powerful as they used to be.

"Andy Ogles thought he had the kiss of life, but had the kiss of death instead," Wilson said, later adding, "All of the bulls—— that was definitional to a modern Republican candidate was present there with Andy Ogles. Every single bit of it. And the truth of the matter is it didn't work, didn't help, didn't save him, didn't make it better. It turned out that nothing was going to fix it because Trump's endorsement now, while it used to be something, and it's not nothing, but ... it doesn't work like it worked before."

Wilson also noted that he has seen signs of Republicans now trying to distance themselves from a Trump endorsement, given how toxic it can be in the eyes of certain voters.

"And in fact, there are some Republicans that I know for a fact, a couple of Republican congressional candidates have been like, 'Well, I didn't ask for the endorsement, but he gave it to me.' Oh, okay. Yeah, that's going to make people feel you're not a complete Trump suck-up after all. Pretty fascinating to me."

Wilson also tore into Ogles as a lawmaker and candidate, tarring him as one of the most MAGA-devoted figures in Washington.

"Trump loved him and thought he was great, he's my guy, this and that," Wilson said. And yet, didn't work... He wanted to rewrite the Constitution. He is a complete election denier. Trump's word is law with Andy Ogles, defends everything."

Wilson and Jong-Fast mentioned Ogles' desire to "rewrite the Constitution for Trump," referencing his proposal to change the 22nd Amendment to allow presidents to run for up to three terms in office.