'Wouldn't have had a chance': Trump celebrates retirement of Indiana rep who broke with him
WASHINGTON, DC: President Donald Trump lashed out at Indiana state Sen Rodric Bray, who has announced his retirement, arguing that he wouldn’t “have had a chance” to seek reelection.
Trump celebrated Bray’s retirement, reviving the feud over Bray's pushback against Trump’s redistricting plan last year.
Trump mocks Rodric Bray after retirement announcement
In a Truth Social post on Friday, July 31, Trump taunted Sen Rodric Bray immediately after he announced that he would not seek re-election. Trump celebrated the announcement, calling Bray a foolish leader and saying he was “pleased” to share the retirement news.
( @realDonaldTrump - Truth Social Post )
— Fan Donald J. Trump 🇺🇸 TRUTH POSTS (@TruthTrumpPosts) July 31, 2026
( Donald J. Trump - Jul 31 2026, 10:50 AM ET )
I am pleased to announce that the man who so foolishly led the Indiana State Senate, with almost every Candidate losing their Race, many of them in Office for years, will not be seeking… pic.twitter.com/S4dNQ1IF26
Notably, Bray voted against a Trump-backed bill (HB 1032) aimed at redrawing Indiana's US House districts to heavily favor Republicans in the 2026 midterms.
“I am pleased to announce that the man who so foolishly led the Indiana State Senate, with almost every Candidate losing their Race, many of them in Office for years, will not be seeking Re-Election as Senate President because he wouldn’t have had a chance to be elected,” Trump wrote.
Trump went on to say Bray should consider resigning instead of simply retiring, accusing him of hurting Republicans by blocking the redistricting effort.
“Better yet would be if he would resign from Office, completely, but he will be met by us at the Indiana Polls,” Trump added.
He also blamed Bray for costing Republicans two US House seats and claimed his actions contributed to election losses for GOP colleagues who had supported him.
Trump blames Rodric Bray for Indiana GOP losses
Trump had urged Indiana Republicans last year to pass a new congressional map to help boost the GOP's chances in the midterm elections. But Republican lawmakers in the state rejected the White House's push.
Following that decision, five Republican Indiana state senators lost their primary races earlier this year to candidates backed by Trump.
Trump went on to thank Indiana voters for their support, pointing to his record-breaking performance in the state in the presidential election.
“Isn’t it amazing how Politics works?” Trump wrote.
He thanked Indiana voters for helping him win the state by what he called the highest vote total in its history and praised them for voting out Republican senators he described as "wayward," blaming former Senate President Rodric Bray for leading them "down the Path of Destruction."
