The Trump White House is working directly with conservative state lawmakers to push the “Make America Great Again” agenda at the state level, holding strategy sessions with legislators from Louisiana, Missouri, and Wyoming.
Through the Office of Intergovernmental Affairs, officials have urged lawmakers to advance priorities on election integrity, redistricting, education, and energy. Louisiana Republicans met Aug. 12 with Trump’s Domestic Policy Council and Cabinet members including Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, and Interior Secretary Doug Burgum. Lawmakers were pressed to assume control of education policy as the administration moves to dismantle the federal Department of Education.
Missouri state senator Nick Schroer said Trump’s involvement could pressure Republicans who often side with Democrats, especially on redistricting. Andy Roth, president of the State Freedom Caucus Network, said his members are the administration’s most reliable allies, accusing many GOP legislators of forming an “unholy alliance” with Democrats.
Wyoming has been held up as a model, with Freedom Caucus lawmakers passing voter ID requirements, banning ranked-choice voting, and planning legislation to end mail-in ballots and voting machines following Trump’s calls.
Missouri Rep. Bill Sparks said the effort reflects a shift in strategy: “This is the first time that I personally have seen an administration recognize that, in order to accomplish their policy goals, they have to do it on the state level as well as the federal level.”
