Donald Trump and his inner circle are allegedly discouraging lower-tier Republican candidates from engaging the services of GOP strategist Jeff Roe and his consulting firm, Axiom.
This move comes in retaliation for Roe’s involvement in electing Ron DeSantis, as he served as a top strategist for the DeSantis super PAC, Never Back Down, before resigning amid internal disputes.
According to four sources familiar with the matter, the directive against hiring Roe is an attempt to cut off revenue for Axiom, marking a clear act of political retribution.
Candidates have been cautioned that bringing Roe on board could create political complications with the Trump team, signaling the former president’s commitment to enforcing loyalty within the GOP.
An anonymous influential Republican strategist remarked, “It’s an open secret that candidates who want to stay on President Trump’s good side should not hire Axiom. They are enemy No. 1.” This underscores the lengths to which Trump is willing to go to maintain allegiance and penalize those perceived as disloyal within the party.
Trump and DeSantis Conversations
Despite having discussions with Trump about potentially leading his presidential campaign, Roe’s association with DeSantis seems to have strained their relationship. After leaving Never Back Down, Trump publicly declared on Truth Social, “Jeff Roe is out GAME OVER for DeSanctimonious.”
Notably, top Trump adviser Chris LaCivita also criticized Roe on social media, emphasizing the need for him to stay away from the US Senate.
Donald Trump Jr. further accused Roe of trying to prolong the Republican primary to benefit financially at the expense of the DeSantis campaign during a recent campaign event in Iowa.
While it remains unclear which specific candidates have been discouraged from hiring Roe, Trump’s spokesperson declined to comment on the matter.
Roe, along with Axiom president Rob Phillips, has refrained from commenting on the situation. Phillips, however, emphasized in a statement that Axiom Strategies has played a significant role in electing conservatives and is committed to answering President Trump’s call for unity within the party.
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