Swirling rumors about scandal-plagued Republican who could ruin Trump's nearly-flawless record sparks panic: 'We can't have another f*** up

By JON MICHAEL RAASCH, WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT Published: 21:18, 11 June 2026 | Updated: 21:25, 11 June 2026 Donald Trump's political operation is trying to avoid 'another f*** up' by not endorsing any more losing candidates after the President's endorsement streak was recently broken, sources tell the Daily Mail.  And that's why the President has yet to endorse a candidate in Georgia's hotly contested Senate GOP primary.  The President had gone 118 - 0 in endorsements this cycle until Trump-backed Congressman Randy Feenstra lost his Iowa gubernatorial primary earlier this month to farmer Zach Lahn by less than a percent.  Asked about his endorsement of Feestra on Thursday, Trump said: 'Had I been given the proper information, which I don't think I was, I would've endorsed the other person.'  The defeat put a stain on Trump's previously untarnished 2026 endorsement record, and the blowback inside the West Wing has been fierce.  'I think there are internal efforts to scramble to see if this is a one-off or part of a broader issue with endorsements,' a White House insider shared.  'The team knows they can't have another f*** up,' they added. 'There's real concern about embarrassing the president, basically.' Now the Trump political team is scrambling to avoid another misplaced endorsement. And in no race is that concern more evident than in Georgia, where scandal-plagued Congressman Mike Collins is facing off with former football coach Derek Dooley next week to determine who will run against incumbent Democratic Senator Jon Ossoff.  Donald Trump and his political team were stunned when the President's formerly flawless 118 - 0 endorsement record for the 2026 midterms was shattered after Republican Congressman Randy Feenstra lost his bid for the Iowa gubernatorial race to another GOP candidate Georgia GOP Senate hopeful Congressman Mike Collins (L) with President Donald Trump (C) in the Oval Office with his wife Leigh Ann Collins (R). Trump has yet to endorse a candidate in the Senate GOP primary runoff, and those familiar with the matter say its because the President's team is worried that Collins could lose in the general election against liberal Senator Jon Ossoff Collins is facing off with former football coach Derek Dooley in a runoff for the Georgia Senate GOP primary on Tuesday Collins has led in essentially every public poll since the beginning of his campaign. The Congressman holds an 11-point edge over Dooley, according to the RealClearPolitics Poll Average. Yet Trump's endorsement has not yet come in the race, even after Collins met with the President at the White House last week, the White House insider revealed.   'The President brought up that Mike's position on abortion is extreme, no exceptions... probably makes him unelectable in Georgia,' they said.  But another top White House official familiar with the matter pushed back on the characterization that there is concern over the Iowa loss, adding that it is 'categorically false' there is concern over Trump's preferred candidate losing, breaking their winning endorsement record.  Pressed on why he has not endorsed anyone in the Senate GOP primary runoff on Thursday, Trump said he 'may' end up backing a candidate, but did not expand on who he would support.  Collins has said that he does not believe in any exceptions for abortion, which goes far beyond the GOP platform that typically supports abortions when the life of the mother is at risk, or the child is conceived out of rape or incest.  But that is just one of several issues insiders say are holding Trump back from endorsing Collins. There are also swirling rumors about Collins that have unsettled the President's political team.  'It's basically the staff thing, and especially the abortion thing... they know that this personal issue could come out, and there will be others,' the insider said.  Collins' former chief of staff Brandon Phillips (R) allegedly hired his girlfriend, Caroline Craze (L) as an intern.  Craze was paid over $10,000 for two internships in Collins' Georgia district, but the lawmaker's staff in the state did not know about her employment  Meanwhile, the White House official said that Trump and Collins have a good relationship despite no announced endorsement.  The House Ethics Committee is currently investigating the Georgia Republican for allegations that his former chief of staff, Brandon Phillips, paid over $10,000 to his much younger girlfriend, a former intern for Collins, despite her allegedly performing hardly any work for the congressional office.  When another former Collins staffer asked Phillips about the payments to his much younger girlfriend, raising the fact that she had not seen the then-intern in the office, the inquisitive aide was let go shortly after.  The Office of Congressional Conduct found 'substantial reason to believe' that Collins misused funds to benefit Phillips. Collins has called the allegations 'bogus' and 'baseless.'  Additionally, a former intern and campaign staffer, Preston Parra, a self-proclaimed racist twink who has posted numerous raunchy half-naked pictures and attempted to gather a 'harem of twink concubines.' The same week the former campaign staffer was posting in support of Collins' Senate bid, Parra posted boastfully about being a 'racist' and threatened to make revelations about White House staffers and his own body.  Collins' office never responded to the Daily Mail's request for comment on Parra.  Further, Collins' current chief of staff, Kip Talley, was recently reported to be in a group chat with several prominent white nationalists and anti-semites, including Nick Fuentes, according to Slate.  He admitted to being in the chat and said that he was participating in a personal capacity not related to Collins' office. Talley was contacted by the Daily Mail for comment.   The scandal-ridden hires have also concerned the President's political operation, sources told the Daily Mail. Preston Parra, 24, interned for Rep. Mike Collins before working on behalf of his campaign. He is a self-proclaimed racist twink who regularly posts sexual and derogatory content despite running a political firm Parra posted this while working for Collins' Overhaul PAC. Federal Election Commission filings show that Parra was last paid by the congressman's political gorup on May 23, 2025, three days after he posted this on X Another source close to the White House confirmed that Collins' judgment in staff is an issue of concern. 'I’ve heard firsthand from folks there that the rumors swirling around Collins and the judgement issues he’s shown on staffing are the reason that the President has yet to endorse despite the fact that he’s led in every single poll that’s been released in the race,' a source familiar with the matter told the Daily Mail.  Insiders say that the Trump political team is concerned about the many alleged scandals surrounding Collins, and that is why the President has yet to endorse a candidate in the race 'It’s clear there’s concern,' they added. 'The President likes winners. Collins has led every poll in the runoff and is hosting a telerally for his endorsed candidate for governor tomorrow. Yet continues to stay arms-width from Collins.' The Georgia Senate GOP primary runoff is set for June 16, and the window for Trump to weigh in is narrowing.  'The Trump endorsement is the most powerful and influential endorsement in the history of American politics,' White House spokeswoman Olivia Wales told the Daily Mail in a statement. Kiersten Pels, spokeswoman for the Republican National Committee, said: 'President Trump’s endorsement remains one of the most powerful forces in politics, as Republican voters continue uniting behind candidates who support his America First agenda.' But whether the President backs Collins is still up in the air. No comments have so far been submitted. Why not be the first to send us your thoughts, or debate this issue live on our message boards. By posting your comment you agree to our house rules. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual. 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