Bill Cassidy says President Donald Trump staying neutral | National Politics

WASHINGTON – U.S. Sen. Bill Cassidy said Thursday that he still hopes President Donald Trump will endorse his reelection — but for now, the president isn’t working against his campaign.

“It’s been communicated the president’s staying neutral,” Cassidy told Punchbowl News on its Thursday “Fly Out Day” episode.

“Of course, I’d love an endorsement, but going back to good policy, good politics, I have worked really hard for the people of Louisiana over the last two terms,” the Baton Rouge Republican added.

Cassidy was brought onto the weekly show to discuss his efforts to sort out the conflict over whether or how to address the healthcare problems caused by soon-to-end enhanced tax credits that will double the cost of health insurance policies in the Affordable Care Act marketplace. Indeed, he spent most of the roughly 20-minute episode talking about healthcare.

But Cassidy also is seeking a third term, and he is one of only three Republican incumbent senators who have not been endorsed by Trump.

Cassidy was censured by Louisiana Republicans in 2021 for voting to convict Trump on charges stemming from the January 6th riot by MAGA supporters at the U.S. Capitol.

Trump in April 2024 called Cassidy “a total flake” and “one of the worst senators.”

He has attracted four challengers – all of whom are running to the right of Cassidy in a closed GOP primary in which no Democrat can vote.

Punchbowl, an online news source covering Capitol Hill, stated Cassidy phoned after the show to say, “it isn’t that the president will never endorse me, but at this point he’s not working against me.”

Then, Punchbowl reported that Cassidy’s staff later sent over a statement: “It has been communicated to me from the highest levels at the White House that the President will not endorse any of my opponents. I am working to earn his endorsement, which is still on the table. When I say he is staying out of my race, it is to say he is not working against me because we have a great working relationship. The White House has made that explicitly clear.”

At the end of his time on the show, Cassidy was asked if LSU should hire Lane Kiffin as the next football coach.

He replied, “I like Frank Wilson,” who is running the team after Brian Kelly was fired.