Story perspectives

McKinnon Warns Trump Attacks Could Backfire in Primaries

6/6/2026

Left

McKinnon Warns Backfire

Mark McKinnon warned President Donald Trump’s attacks on his Republican allies could backfire, calling it “revenge of the walking dead.”
The June 16 primaries are framed as a referendum on President Donald Trump’s expanding federal presence in Washington, D.C.
McKinnon said Trump is targeting Senators Bill Cassidy, Thom Tillis, John Cornyn and Representative Thomas Massie.
The interview with Alex Witt featured warning that Republicans could undermine Trump’s agenda in election.

Right

Trump Claims Theft

President Donald Trump claimed Democrats stole California’s governor and Los Angeles mayoral primaries and said Justice Department is probing delays.
June 16 primaries show Steve Hilton leading Xavier Becerra, Spencer Pratt beating Nithya Raman, while Mayor Karen Bass heads to runoff.
About 56 % of votes in the California gubernatorial race have been counted, confirming Hilton’s lead.
Republican Spencer Pratt holds 29.9 % of the Los Angeles mayoral vote versus Democrat Nithya Raman’s 22.8 %.

Center

Trump Deploys Guard

The June 16 primaries are framed as a referendum on President Donald Trump’s expanding federal presence in Washington, D.C.
Voters will choose a mayor and a non-voting delegate on June 16, with Muriel Bowser and Eleanor Holmes Norton not running.
President Donald Trump has stationed 3,500 National Guard troops, with plans to increase to 5,000.
Candidates Janeese Lewis George and Robert White Jr. criticize actions affecting affordability and police cooperation.

Blindspot

Center coverage emphasized the deployment of roughly 3,500 National Guard troops to Washington, D.C., with plans to increase to 5,000 for the city’s 250th-anniversary celebrations.
Left coverage gave less weight to that troop deployment, focusing instead on intra-Republican primary dynamics, and Right coverage likewise omitted the National Guard detail while concentrating on California and Los Angeles races.

History

Historical Context

The 1992 Los Angeles riots became a reference point for later federal force decisions. In June 2025, President Donald Trump federalized the California National Guard and ordered about 700 Marines to Los Angeles amid immigration-raid protests, a move Governor Gavin Newsom sued as illegal. The June 16 primaries now echo that history, forcing candidates to confront the political impact of deploying thousands of troops in a major city.

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McKinnon Warns Backfire

Mark McKinnon warned President Donald Trump’s attacks on his Republican allies could backfire, calling it “revenge of the walking dead.”
The June 16 primaries are framed as a referendum on President Donald Trump’s expanding federal presence in Washington, D.C.
McKinnon said Trump is targeting Senators Bill Cassidy, Thom Tillis, John Cornyn and Representative Thomas Massie.
The interview with Alex Witt featured warning that Republicans could undermine Trump’s agenda in election.

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