Welcome to meet the press now. I'm Kristen Welker in Washington, where President Trump's grip on the Republican Party appears stronger than ever, despite tumbling approval ratings with voters heading into the midterms.

Today, the president celebrating another victory in his revenge campaign against his Republican

critics. After Republican Congressman Thomas Massey was defeated by Trump-backed challenger Ed Galrine

in the most expensive House primary in history.

In his victory speech, Gowrym pledged to support the president, while Massey encouraged his party to exercise some independence. Take a listen.

My focus is on advancing the presidents and the party's agenda to put America first and Kentucky

always.

If the legislative branch always votes with the president, we do have a king.

If the legislative branch always votes whichever way the wind is blowing,

then we have mob rule.

But if the legislative branch and the representatives and the senators that serve with

that always follow the Constitution, we have a republic.

The president's pick in Kentucky's Republican Senate primary, Andy Barr, also won. But in Georgia,

President Trump's pick in the governor's

race, Bert Jones did not hit the 50 percent needed and now heads to a runoff against billionaire

Rick Jackson. The Georgia Republican Senate primary also heading to a runoff. The winner of that

race will take on Senator John Ossoff in a matchup will be watching closely in November.

Congressman Massey's defeat is the latest data point emboldening President Trump to pursue an

even greater MAGA makeover of his party. It follows the defeat of Republican Senator Bill

Cassidy, who voted to convict the president during his 2021 impeachment and the ousting of five Indiana

state senators who rejected the president's redistricting plan. Today, House Speaker Mike Johnson

defending the president's involvement in primary races. I talked with the president late last

...