Trump’s Unique Election Record Shocks Media

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President Donald Trump is defending his record of endorsing Republican candidates after several of his picks failed to win their primaries, arguing that the losses were largely the result of loyalty rather than poor judgment.

In a Sunday post on Truth Social, Trump declared that his endorsements remain “stronger than ever” while promoting graphics that claim his candidates have won 97 percent of Republican primaries in 2026.

Trump said his endorsements have helped candidates who otherwise might not have had a realistic opportunity to win. He also acknowledged that some of his preferred candidates lost, but argued that he supported them because he believed they were good people.

“The few that lost were done out of loyalty,” Trump wrote, saying some of those candidates faced extremely difficult races but that he felt obligated to stand behind them.

The graphics shared alongside his post claimed that Trump-endorsed candidates have won 760 of 783 Republican primary contests involving U.S. Senate, House and gubernatorial races across the 2018, 2020, 2022, 2024 and 2026 election cycles.

For the 2026 cycle specifically, one of the graphics claimed that 254 of 262 Trump-backed candidates had won their Republican primaries, putting the president’s reported success rate at 97 percent.

The breakdown showed Trump-endorsed Senate candidates winning all 23 contests in which he had backed a candidate. His preferred House candidates reportedly won 215 of 219 primaries, while his gubernatorial picks won 16 of 20.

Trump’s comments come after a series of recent primary defeats involving candidates he had supported, prompting renewed attention on the limits of presidential influence in Republican contests.

Despite those setbacks, Trump is emphasizing the broader numbers rather than the individual losses, arguing that his endorsement record remains historically strong.

The latest message also reflects Trump’s continued effort to portray his political influence as a major force within the Republican Party as candidates prepare for the 2026 general election.