Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell lobbied Donald Trump directly last year to support Roger Wicker’s reelection bid. | Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images Trump backs Wicker as primary challenge looms

President Donald Trump gave a full-throated endorsement to Mississippi Sen. Roger Wicker on Tuesday, giving the incumbent a boost just one day before he’s expected to receive a high-profile primary challenge.

The endorsement is a blow to Wicker’s soon-to-be opponent, conservative state Sen. Chris McDaniel, whose bid rests heavily on winning over the president’s core supporters.


“.@SenatorWicker of Mississippi has been a great supporter and incredible help in getting our massive Tax Cut Bill done and approved,” Trump tweeted. “Also big help on cutting regs. I am with him in his re-election all the way!”

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) lobbied Trump directly last year to support Wicker’s reelection bid. At the time, Trump’s former chief strategist, Steve Bannon, was threatening to support a McDaniel primary challenge.

POLITICO Playbook newsletter Sign up today to receive the #1-rated newsletter in politics Email Sign Up By signing up you agree to receive email newsletters or alerts from POLITICO. You can unsubscribe at any time. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

McConnell has made backing imperiled incumbents such as Wicker a priority.

Whether Trump’s support will be able to put Wicker over the top is an open question. During the Alabama special election last year, Trump endorsed incumbent Sen. Luther Strange, only to see Strange lose overwhelmingly to the conservative favorite, Roy Moore.

McDaniel, who waged an unsuccessful 2014 primary against GOP Sen. Thad Cochran, is slated to announce his campaign on Wednesday afternoon during an appearance in Ellisville, Mississippi.

