U.S. President Donald Trump speaks, as a patch of blemished skin is visible above his shirt collar, during a Medal of Honor ceremony at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., March 2, 2026. REUTERS/Ken Cedeno
President Donald Trump's MAGA loyalists are true to their threats to go after some of their own party if they didn't support his redistricting demands.
Top Republicans in Indiana are facing retribution to the tune of more than $5 million in campaign spending for the GOP primaries, Politico reported on Friday.
Of that sum, $3 million is coming from Sen. Jim Banks' political nonprofit group, being run by longtime Trump operative Andrew Surabian. The group intends to "carpet-bomb seven state Senate races," one person familiar with the strategy told Politico.
"Turning Point USA and Club for Growth are expected to join the effort," the report said.
Politico said that it's an indication that Trump is ready to go scorched-earth on those who didn't give him what he wanted, even if that means losing some GOP seats in the end.
“Every RINO who was foolish enough to oppose redistricting will be crushed in their upcoming primaries,” cheered Trump adviser Alex Bruesewitz, who tried to rally support for mid-decade redrawing of Congressional maps.
“They’ve betrayed not only their constituents but the entire nation. Hoosiers deserve a more conservative state Senate,” Sen. Banks told Playbook.
Longtime Republican County Chairman Randy Gentry said his phone rang with calls from White House Director of Public Affairs Max Brasseaux and White House deputy chief of staff James Blair to talk about kicking some people out of campaign races to "clear a path to the ballot for Brenda Wilson," who Trump wants to see beat his foe, Sen. Greg Goode.
Politico reported that "the White House political shop has made between half a dozen and a dozen inquiries across the state to monitor the situation, according to a person familiar."
Trump also invited the GOP challengers to the White House.
“Simply put, they’re about to face a wave of conservative activism that they’ve never had to see and compete with in their careers,” Brett Galaszewski, of Turning Point Action, told Politico.
Former Indiana state Republican lawmaker Mike Murphy commented of the incumbents, "I will predict that none of them lose."
He cited Club for Growth president David McIntosh, who mounted two failed gubernatorial campaigns in 2000 and 2004.
“What’s David McIntosh gonna do? Come on TV and say, ‘Hey, I’m David McIntosh. Remember me? I got my a—— kicked?'” Murphy quipped to Politico.
“I’ve been reminded of a lesson I learned in business a long time ago: Revenge is not a strategy. I do find it hard to understand," former Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels, also told the site.