President Trump just fired a warning shot across the bow of the Louisiana political establishment, and Senator Bill Cassidy should be very nervous. On Truth Social, President Trump publicly endorsed Congresswoman Julia Letlow for a potential 2026 Senate run, making it clear who he believes actually represents Louisiana voters and who does not.
Letlow’s rise has been anything but typical. After the tragic death of her husband, Luke Letlow, who was elected to Congress in 2020 but passed away before taking office, she stepped forward and won the special election runoff in March 2021. In doing so, she became the first Republican woman to ever represent Louisiana in the U.S. House. Since then, she has quietly built a solid record, serving on major committees like Appropriations, Agriculture, and Education and the Workforce, while consistently aligning herself with America First priorities.
That alignment is what earned her President Trump’s backing. In his endorsement, Trump called Letlow a “TOTAL WINNER” and praised her as a rising star who “always delivered for Louisiana.” He went on to spell out exactly what he expects from a senator, growing the economy, cutting taxes and regulations, supporting farmers and fishermen, championing Louisiana oil and gas, securing the border, stopping migrant crime, strengthening the military, and defending the Second Amendment. In other words, the basics, which somehow feel radical in Washington these days.
Trump’s message ended with a rallying cry that left no room for interpretation. “Should she decide to enter this Race, Julia Letlow has my Complete and Total Endorsement. RUN, JULIA, RUN!!!” That is not subtle. That is Trump telling voters, donors, and activists exactly where he stands.
The endorsement also shines a harsh light on Bill Cassidy, who has spent more than a decade in Washington and has repeatedly found himself at odds with the Republican base. Cassidy’s biggest mistake came in February 2021, when he voted to convict President Trump during the second impeachment trial. That single vote cemented his reputation as unreliable, a label Trump later reinforced by calling him “disloyal” and a “total flake.”
Cassidy has tried to patch things up since, but trust once broken is hard to rebuild. While he chairs the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee and talks about infrastructure and health care, many Louisiana Republicans see him as too comfortable with the D.C. mindset. That frustration has reportedly extended to figures like Governor Jeff Landry, who has encouraged the idea of a primary challenge.
Louisiana’s jungle primary system means this race could get messy fast, with all candidates on one ballot and a runoff likely. Cassidy has already said he plans to run again, but Trump’s endorsement dramatically changes the math.
Letlow has not formally declared yet, but the writing is on the wall. President Trump has chosen his side, and history suggests that when he does, Republican primaries tend to move quickly. If Julia Letlow jumps in, this will not be a polite debate about résumés. It will be a referendum on loyalty, leadership, and whether Louisiana wants a senator who stands with President Trump or against him.