President Donald Trump celebrated another victory over a Republican opponent Tuesday when Rep. Thomas Massie was defeated in Kentucky’s primary election, eliminating one of his harshest critics from Capitol Hill. Massie had proven to be an especially troublesome adversary for Trump, standing against the conflict with Iran and casting votes opposing Trump’s major tax reform package from the previous year.
Here are the latest developments:
Immigration Issue Shows Signs of Recovery for Trump: AP-NORC Survey
Immigration appears to be regaining its status as a favorable topic for Trump, according to findings from a recent AP-NORC survey.
The immigration issue initially served as one of Trump’s political advantages, with approximately half of American adults expressing support for his policies, but his approval ratings on this matter declined following periods of intensive immigration enforcement actions.
Currently, slightly less than half of American adults, at 45%, express approval for his management of this policy area.
Among Republicans, immigration continues to rank among Trump’s most successful policy areas. Approximately 8 out of 10 Republicans — 83% — support his immigration policies, a figure that exceeds the percentage who express approval for his overall presidential performance.
Survey Results: Economic Concerns Among Republicans Don’t Shake Trump Support
While Republicans express greater dissatisfaction with President Trump’s economic policies compared to recent months, most continue to support him overall.
Approximately 6 out of 10 Republicans — 63% — express approval for Trump’s economic management in the latest AP-NORC survey. This represents a decline from 79% recorded in February, prior to the start of the Iran conflict.
Roughly one-third of all American adults support his economic leadership.
This decrease in economic confidence hasn’t affected his general job performance ratings — approximately 7 out of 10 Republicans continue to approve of his presidential leadership, consistent with earlier polling this year. These results demonstrate Trump’s persistent support within the Republican Party, despite growing economic concerns.
Vance and Rubio Begin 2028 Presidential Positioning Through White House Press Duties
The initial indicators of presidential campaigns typically involve discrete behind-the-scenes maneuvering from potential candidates, commonly referred to in political circles as the “shadow primary.”
However, the emerging Republican competition to follow Trump in slightly more than two years appears to be unfolding in one of the most visible venues available: the White House press briefing room.
Vice President JD Vance, widely regarded as one of the GOP’s most viable presidential prospects for 2028, approached the podium Tuesday, commanding attention for 54 minutes while responding to reporter questions.
His appearance lasted five minutes beyond the session conducted two weeks earlier by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, currently viewed as Vance’s primary potential competitor — or possible running mate — for 2028.
Both Vance and Rubio were selected as interim substitutes for White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt, who is currently on maternity leave. The opportunity to engage with reporters before television cameras provided a prominent platform to demonstrate their qualifications for the presidency.
Federal Government Drops Tax Claims Against Trump in Expanded IRS Settlement
The federal government will permanently abandon tax claims against Trump, based on a settlement document released Tuesday, representing an unusual application of executive authority that could help protect the president from additional scrutiny of his financial and legal affairs.
Under the settlement agreement designed to resolve Trump’s $10 billion legal action against the Internal Revenue Service regarding the disclosure of his tax documents, the federal government is “forever barred and precluded” from investigating or pursuing Trump, his sons, and the Trump organization’s ongoing tax reviews, according to a single-page document published on the Justice Department’s website.
The government is additionally prohibited from investigating Trump’s family members, associates, and others, based on the document, which bears the signature of acting Attorney General Todd Blanche. This document serves as a separate supplement to the original settlement announced Monday and was posted to the Justice Department website Tuesday.
The White House directed Associated Press questions to the Justice Department, while the U.S. Treasury did not respond to Associated Press inquiries.
Georgia Republicans Prepare for Runoff Elections for Senate and Governor Positions
Georgia Republicans will continue their internal competition as they move toward runoff elections to select their candidates for governor and U.S. Senate in the competitive state, after Tuesday’s primary elections failed to determine clear winners.
The Senate runoff will include former college football coach Derek Dooley and Rep. Mike Collins, while Rep. Buddy Carter was eliminated from contention. The victor will face Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff in one of the most scrutinized races in the November midterm elections.
Lt. Gov. Burt Jones and healthcare billionaire Rick Jackson proceeded to the runoff in the Republican gubernatorial primary, continuing their intense and costly campaign rivalry. Former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms secured the Democratic nomination Tuesday.
With approximately one month remaining until the June 16 runoff, Republicans will invest additional time and resources competing internally before focusing on their Democratic challengers in crucial contests.
Previous Political Opponents Set for Rematch in Alabama Governor’s Race and Senate Runoffs
Alabama will witness a rematch between two prominent gubernatorial candidates, while contenders from both major parties will advance to runoff elections next month for a vacant U.S. Senate position.
Republican U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville and former U.S. Sen. Doug Jones, a Democrat, comfortably secured their respective primary victories for governor Tuesday, establishing their second direct competition after Tuberville defeated Jones six years earlier.
Jones won election to the U.S. Senate in a special election in 2017, but his tenure was brief in the strongly Republican state. He hopes that voter dissatisfaction with their Republican-controlled government, particularly regarding healthcare and increasing living costs, will drive him to another uncommon Democratic success in the Deep South.
Tuberville’s decision to pursue the governor’s office sparked an intense Republican competition for a vacant Senate seat that will almost certainly remain Republican.
Analysis of Tuesday’s Primary Results: Massie’s Defeat Confirms Trump’s GOP Influence
Trump achieved another victory Tuesday over a Republican opponent, removing Rep. Thomas Massie in Kentucky’s primary and eliminating one of his most vocal Capitol Hill critics.
Massie had proven particularly challenging for Trump. He opposed the Iran conflict and voted against Trump’s major tax reform legislation from last year. He was defeated by Trump-endorsed candidate Ed Gallrein in what became the most expensive U.S. House primary in American history.
Although Trump has achieved multiple victories during this primary season, this particular win may deliver an even stronger warning to the president’s Republican opponents. Massie was well-established in his strongly Republican Kentucky district before his conflict with Trump intensified, ending a congressional career that started in 2012.
Nevertheless, Massie will continue serving in Congress until his term concludes in January, and without facing a Republican primary in the future, he now possesses greater freedom than before to challenge Trump.
