By Damian Paletta

Good morning. If the past couple of weeks have shown anything, it's that President Trump has still got it.

And the "it" is his ability to clean house in the GOP, tossing overboard party members who he alleges aren't loyal to his brand of conservatism.

A few weeks ago, he led the charge to upend several Indiana state senators who he said bucked him on a GOP redistricting plan.

On Saturday, his push to elevate Rep. Julia Letlow proved sufficient to knock Sen. Bill Cassidy out of a crowded primary for the U.S. Senate seat in Louisiana. Cassidy voted in 2021 to convict Trump following the president's second impeachment.

Trump didn't even take a minute to savor Cassidy's collapse before he turned his eyes to Kentucky, where he is hoping to politically pulverize someone he considers a true nemesis, Rep. Thomas Massie.

Massie's primary is Tuesday. Seeming to leave nothing to chance, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is scheduled to appear with Massie's opponent on Monday (a highly unusual arrangement for a cabinet official in a primary), according to local press reports.

Is Massie the firewall? Or just another domino? He thinks he has the stuff to hold on and win.

"I'm ahead in the polls, and they're desperate," he said Sunday on ABC. "That's why they're sending the secretary of war to my district (Monday). That's why the president is losing sleep and tweeting about this."

This is an edition of the Politics newsletter, bringing you an expert guide to what's driving D.C. every day. If you're not subscribed, sign up here.

People and Policies I'm Watching

Middle East: The United Arab Emirates is investigating the source of a drone that crossed its western border to set off a fire near its Barakah nuclear-power station.

Islamic State in Africa: U.S. forces killed an estimated 20 Islamic State militants in a hotly contested corner of Nigeria, days after an operation that killed the group's No. 2.

Ukraine-Russia war: After Ukraine launched its biggest strikes on Moscow in more than a year on Sunday, Kyiv is entering a hopeful spring after surviving the war's darkest winter.

Trump's Monday: The president is to join a healthcare-affordability event at 4:30 p.m. ET.

What I'm Following

How Nicki Minaj went from being a Trump critic to a MAGA darling. The 43-year-old rap superstar best known for chart toppers such as "Starships," once lambasted Trump's immigration policies but found a conduit to MAGA through Alex Bruesewitz, who scouts stars and influencers who back the president. Now Minaj, known for leading an online army of mega-fans known as "Barbz" and for bringing a theatrical streak to contemporary hip-hop, has embraced a new status atop MAGA's A-list.

Trump battles Hakeem Jeffries on social media. The House minority leader has become a steady recipient of the president's social-media trolling in recent weeks, complete with derogatory nicknames such as "High Tax Hakeem" and "Low IQ," a tried and tested approach by a president known for labeling his political foils. The social-media push aims to make Jeffries the face of House Democrats and a symbol of what Republicans view as advocates for higher spending, unchecked borders and liberal policies.

The millionaire candidate who wants to remake the Democratic Party. Saikat Chakrabarti, who made his fortune as a founding engineer at payment-processor platform Stripe, is mobilizing his millions to try to win the congressional seat being vacated by former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. Chakrabarti, who ran Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's campaign for the House in 2018, has spent the past year trying to build a name as an insurgent who will overhaul the party, which he says isn't fighting for working-class Americans.

What Else Is Happening

   -- Trump is discussing plans to install a helipad at the White House to 
      prevent powerful new Marine One helicopters from damaging the South Lawn. 
 
   -- Sens. Katie Britt and Richard Blumenthal are introducing bipartisan 
      legislation that would ban digital gambling advertisements targeting 
      people under 18. 
 
   -- Incoming Federal Reserve Chair Kevin Warsh wants lower rates, but the 
      data might make that impossible. 
 
   -- The White House hosted a faith event on the National Mall that reflects 
      the Trump administration's effort to elevate Christianity in government 
      and civic life. 

What I'm Reading

   -- Cornyn-Paxton Senate Runoff Turns Personal as Feud Exposes Rifts (Dallas 
      Morning News) 
 
   -- Rep. McCormick Preaches Unity to Morehouse Med School Grads After 
      Backlash (Atlanta Journal-Constitution) 
 
   -- Why Xi Invoked the Thucydides Trap (The Free Press) 

About Me

I'm Damian Paletta, The Wall Street Journal's Washington coverage chief. I've covered Washington for 22 years as a reporter and editor. I've covered the White House, Congress, national security, the federal budget, economics and multiple market meltdowns.

WSJ Politics brings you an expert guide to what's driving D.C., every weekday morning. Send your feedback to politics@wsj.com (if you're reading this in your inbox, you can just hit reply). This edition was curated and edited in collaboration with Joe Erwin and Michael Connolly. Got a tip for us? Here's how to submit.

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May 18, 2026 07:00 ET (11:00 GMT)

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