President Donald Trump told aides on Monday that he would not endorse either Sen. Marsha Blackburn or Rep. John Rose in Tennessee's Republican primary for governor, according to new reporting, leaving one of the state's marquee GOP showdowns without a White House favorite. The comments came as Trump traveled toward Memphis and, with the August primary closing in, both campaigns now have to win over Trump-aligned voters without the comfort of his official blessing.
Remarks on Air Force One
Two members of Congress who were aboard Air Force One said they heard Trump tell people on the plane that he would not weigh in on the August primary and that Rose had "been good to him," according to accounts described in recent coverage. Lawmakers on the flight told the paper they took the remark as a signal that Trump did not plan to endorse either of the two front-runners. As reported by the Nashville Banner, the exchange happened while the president was en route to Memphis.
An anonymous representative on the plane added that "this president has been known to change his mind," hinting that the door to a late endorsement is not completely locked. According to the Banner, Blackburn's campaign declined to comment for that story, staying publicly quiet while the endorsement drama plays out.
Candidates and their Trump ties
Both Blackburn and Rose have carefully cultivated ties to Trump and cast themselves as reliable carriers of his agenda into the governor's office. Blackburn, however, is widely viewed as entering the contest as the heavy favorite, thanks to campaign cash and long-standing political alliances. Reporting on campaign finance and early endorsements shows Blackburn leaning on national fundraising networks to build early momentum, while Rose has poured significant personal money into his own bid. A breakdown of the early money game is detailed by Tennessee Lookout.
Rose's record and the 2020 vote
Rose also has a specific entry on his Trump-era résumé. He was among the House Republicans who objected to certifying some states' Electoral College results after the 2020 presidential election, a move that observers in Tennessee often cite when sizing up his loyalty to Trump. Public roll-call trackers list Rose among those who raised objections during the Jan. 6, 2021, certification proceedings, according to The Washington Post.
Why a Trump nod still matters
Trump has already shown that his seal of approval can reshape a Tennessee race. In a 2025 special House election, his late-breaking endorsement of Matt Van Epps helped consolidate the Republican field and was widely credited with influencing the final result, a case study that strategists still cite when arguing that a presidential nod can move numbers in a closely watched contest. The impact of that endorsement was examined by the Los Angeles Times.
Calendar and what's next
Tennessee's state primary is set for August 6, 2026, giving the campaigns roughly two months to recalibrate now that Trump has signaled he is staying out, at least for the moment. Local election calendars list the August date, and current polling and prediction markets show Blackburn with a sizable edge, suggesting that any late-breaking Trump intervention would be more about juicing turnout and shaping the narrative than flipping the apparent front-runner. The official election schedule is posted by Cheatham County, while recent prediction market analysis is available at Lines.
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