CNN’s Scott Jennings Suggests He’ll Run for Senate if Trump Tells Him To

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CNN’s Scott Jennings Hints at Possible Senate Run — Says He’d Consider It If Trump Gives the Green Light
Speculation Grows Over Who Will Succeed Mitch McConnell in 2026 as Trump’s Influence Looms Large

CNN senior political commentator Scott Jennings sparked speculation this week after suggesting he would consider running for Senate in 2026—if former President Donald Trump encouraged him to do so. Jennings’ comments came during an appearance on Real America’s Voice with host Eric Bolling, where the discussion turned to who might replace longtime Kentucky Senator Mitch McConnell when he steps down.

“A lot of people are floating your name to take over, to jump into Mitch McConnell’s Senate seat next year in ’26. You thinking about it?” Bolling asked.

Jennings, who previously served as a special assistant to President George W. Bush, replied with cautious humor. “Yeah, I haven’t made any announcements about that,” he said. “There’s three people in the race, I know them all, like them all, have been in and out of their lives in varying degrees over the years. I’ve supported them all in various endeavors, so I’m confident the seat will remain Republican.”

But Jennings then offered a telling remark that underscored the continued sway Trump holds over Republican politics. “I do think politics is a team sport, and I think Trump’s the head coach,” he said. “Eventually he’s gonna weigh in on this, and my political advice would be to anybody—you know, if he calls a play, we’re gonna have to run it. I wouldn’t want to run against the president in Kentucky. So, I don’t really have any announcement about it at the moment.”

When Bolling pressed further, asking, “If Trump taps you, you’re gonna run?” Jennings gave a cryptic response: “I pay very close attention to everything the president says.”

The exchange comes amid reports that Trump is actively seeking a loyal successor to McConnell, who has repeatedly clashed with the former president this year. But behind the scenes, tensions are rising within Trump’s inner circle over one of the leading contenders’ political record.

Representative Andy Barr (R-Ky.), one of the front-runners, has come under scrutiny for making donations to several House Republicans who voted to impeach Trump in 2021. Through his leadership PAC, Barr contributed to four lawmakers who backed impeachment, despite Trump’s public demand that his supporters “get rid of them all.”

According to the New York Post, Barr donated $2,500 in February 2021 to then-Rep. Anthony Gonzalez (R-Ohio), who later called Trump “a cancer” and declined to seek re-election. Barr also donated $2,000 to then-Rep. John Katko (R-N.Y.), $10,000 to Rep. David Valadao (R-Calif.) across four payments, and $3,000 to then-Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler (R-Wash.)—all of whom, except Valadao, have since left Congress.

While Barr voted against Trump’s impeachment, he publicly called the former president “irresponsible” and “not blameless” following the events of January 6. That stance has fueled doubts among some Trump allies about his loyalty—a quality that has become central to Trump’s political endorsements and plans for a second administration.

Barr, 51, is now competing in a three-way GOP primary for McConnell’s Senate seat against former Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron, 39, and waste management entrepreneur Nate Morris, 44.

Barr’s critics argue that his donation history could cost him Trump’s backing, while his supporters insist he remains a staunch ally of the former president. Barr’s spokesperson, Alex Bellizzi, defended his record, noting that the congressman has “consistently worked with President Trump” and that his PAC has distributed hundreds of donations to Republican candidates. Bellizzi also pointed out that Morris himself donated $5,000 to former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley in May 2021—months before she became Trump’s chief rival in the 2024 GOP primary.

At the time, Haley had said she would not run if Trump entered the race, a pledge she later reversed when she launched her campaign in early 2023.

Meanwhile, Trump remains the ultimate kingmaker in Kentucky, a state he won by more than 30 percentage points in 2020. His endorsement could determine the outcome of the 2026 GOP primary—and perhaps the future of the state’s Republican establishment.

As speculation mounts, Jennings’ comments suggest he is keeping a close eye on both the race and Trump’s next move. For now, the CNN commentator’s political ambitions remain an open question—but one clearly tied to the former president’s approval.

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