Donald Trump’s political instincts have long been his superpower. But in this new chapter of his presidency, one pattern is raising red flags: his baffling loyalty to establishment Republicans who openly oppose the MAGA agenda. His recent endorsement of Karrin Taylor Robson—a McCain-aligned figure who once criticized Trump and ran against Kari Lake—was more than a blunder. It was a symptom of a deeper problem.

Trump endorsed Robson for Arizona governor 19 months before the 2026 primary, despite stronger conservative alternatives like Rep. Andy Biggs entering the race later. And while Trump eventually issued a dual endorsement, the damage was done. His top political aides had already been working with Robson, and she reportedly refused to even mention Trump’s support in her ads. That raises the question: Why back someone too embarrassed to say your name?

This isn’t an isolated incident. Trump’s habit of endorsing entrenched incumbents and early-cycle insiders has become a clear liability. Whether it’s Reps. Mike Lawler and Jen Kiggans—who’ve actively undermined his legislative priorities—or a laundry list of globalist senators, Trump seems to be rewarding loyalty to the party machine over loyalty to the movement that put him back in the White House.

A glance at his 2026 Senate endorsement roster tells the story. Shelley Moore Capito. Lindsey Graham. Cindy Hyde-Smith. Pete Ricketts. Jim Risch. Not one of them fits the mold of the populist fighters Trump claims to support. And yet, they’ve all received his early blessing—no primaries, no accountability, no questions asked.

It’s not just a D.C. problem either. Trump has endorsed state-level figures like Mississippi’s Roger Wicker, who turned around and stalled Trump’s own budget-cutting package as chair of the Armed Services Committee. Many of these same RINOs oppose his tariffs and immigration policies, but they continue to cash in on his brand.

Instead of empowering grassroots challengers, Trump often clears the field before the fight even begins. That’s how we got stuck with red-state senators like Thom Tillis and Bill Cassidy, who block conservative nominees and tank MAGA policies—but both had Trump’s endorsement in 2020.

The swamp isn’t being drained. It’s being restocked—with Trump’s help.

Now, as we look ahead to 2026, the stakes are even higher. Dozens of governor’s mansions and legislative chambers are up for grabs. These positions could be filled with DeSantis-style warriors who reshape their states from the ground up. But Trump has already thrown his support behind Byron Donalds for Florida governor, nearly two years before the race even begins.

Donalds may have MAGA appeal, but Florida deserves a contested primary, not a coronation. Especially when Donalds has refused to take sides in critical battles over immigration enforcement, school reforms, and ballot initiatives that matter to actual conservative voters.

Worse yet, Trump has endorsed Texas House Speaker Dustin Burrows, a man who sold out conservatives by cutting deals with Democrats and gutting meaningful reform. Instead of standing with the Texas Freedom Caucus, Trump’s team lined up behind the very leadership that burned the state’s legislative session to the ground.

This is where Trump should be fighting the establishment—not shielding it.

RINO speakers like Daniel Perez in Florida have done everything possible to block DeSantis’ agenda. But because Perez cozies up to Trump’s allies, he’s avoided the scrutiny he deserves. The same goes for governors and legislators nationwide who use Trump’s name to win elections, only to push corporatist policies and shut down conservative reforms once in office.

The MAGA movement wasn’t built to play defense for the GOP elite. It was built to replace them. But Trump’s current endorsement strategy does the opposite—it protects the establishment from conservative challengers. It rewards loyalty to Trump, not loyalty to the principles that got him elected.

At this point, it’s not enough to complain about RINOs if Trump keeps handing them golden tickets. If he truly wants to deliver on his America First agenda, he needs to hold the line. No more early endorsements for party insiders. No more shielding bad incumbents from primary challengers. No more settling for politicians who use MAGA branding while blocking MAGA policies.

The base is watching. The window to reshape the GOP is closing. And if Trump wants to lead that transformation, he can’t afford to be a cheap date.