Outgoing U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy takes shots at President Trump in concession speech

[Uncle Joe]

Bill Cassidy was defeated in his bid for re-election. He was opposed by President Trump and he took some shots at him (without naming him) in his concession speech.

"When you participate in a democracy, sometimes it doesn't turn out the way you want it to, but, you don't pout, you don't whine, you don't claim an election was stolen."

"Our country is not about one individual. It is about the welfare of all Americans and it is about our Constitution... And if someone doesn't understand that and attempts to control others through using the levers of power. They're about serving themselves and not about serving us, and that person is not qualified to serve as a leader."

"Leadership should be steady not erratic, thoughtful, not impulsive, and leaders should think of the consequences of their actions before embarking on something and then seeing the American people suffering the consequences later... I'm also asked if I'm bothered by being attacked on the internet. Insults only bother me if they come from somebody of character and integrity."

[rampartd]

1. cassidy chose to ride that taco tiger

one vote to impeach an apparent lame duck and returning to reality on election night does not excuse his behavior.

trump pays him back for subservience by supporting his opponent.

no matter. i don't know jamie davis, our primary winner,, but into the breach.

[RockRaven]

2. Pathetic wretch finds a voice only when he has no power to put behind it.

His legacy will be cynically and meekly confirming Bobby Brainworm thereby destroying the NIH, CDC, and FDA.

Fuck you, Bill.

[Prof. Toru Tanaka]

3. My exact thoughts.

Even his “shots” at TSF were pathetic as he avoided using his name.

[SamKnause]

4. You aided, abetted, and enabled Trump.

You knew exactly how dangerous he was.

You agreed with him the majority of the time.

You are as guilty as Trump.

Your words mean nothing.

[3catwoman3]

5. He's a damned doctor, FFS, and voted to confirm RFK Jr...

…so screw him.

And he’s wrong about the country not being about one person. As far as his party is concerned, it is entirely about one person.

[hlthe2b]

6. I get the continued anger at Cassidy, but, fellow DUers--who the hell do you think will replace him?

Apparently the Dem is not likely to pose any major opposition (at least as far as I have been told). A far more virulent MAGA for at least six years in the Senate! Is that worth celebrating? (Not to mention the signal it sends to other wavering R's that want to oppose Trump).

Cassidy was a fool to bend to Trump and certainly to enable the likes of RFK Jr. But, he was inherently more intelligent and willing to call out the excesses--albeit not sufficient to effect change. So, he was weak, (but far stronger than his R colleagues). But, for those castigating and celebrating his loss--it is a damned WIN for Trump. f there was a Dem opponent with a chance, I'd be more optimistic for positive change. But, given the situation, is that REALLY what you want to be celebrating?

[hatrack]

7. Yes, it is, because it is accountability. Shitty, clumsy, deformed accountability, but it's the best we'll get.

And obviously, the next MAGAt senator from the great state of Sinking Into The Gulf will be another sad little acolyte of King KKKlown, but that was always going to be the result.

So yes, I'm going to rejoice - in shitty, clumsy fashion.

[pfitz59]

8. he could have had a spine

but no.....

[LetMyPeopleVote]

9. MaddowBlog-Trump got his revenge against Cassidy, but will Cassidy get his revenge against Trump?

Interesting things happen when members lose primaries and suddenly have the opportunity to do as they please.

There’s been plenty of focus on Trump getting his revenge against Republican Sen. Bill Cassidy.

But I think the next question is whether Cassidy, with 230 days remaining in his term, might also get some revenge against Trump.
www.ms.now/rachel-maddo...

— Steve Benen (@stevebenen.com) 2026-05-18T18:00:23.096Z

https://www.ms.now/rachel-maddow-show/maddowblog/bill-cassidy-revenge-trump-primary

Looking ahead, however, the dynamic that’s worth appreciating isn’t just whether Trump got his revenge against Cassidy, but also whether Cassidy might yet get some revenge against Trump.

MS NOW’s report highlighted a notable quote from the senator’s concession speech:

“When you participate in democracy, sometimes it doesn’t turn out the way you want it to. But you don’t pout, you don’t whine, you don’t claim the election was stolen,” Cassidy said as applause from supporters overtook him in a speech after his loss.

In the same concession speech, the Louisiana Republican added, “Let me just set the record straight: Our country is not about one individual. It is about the welfare of all Americans, and it is about our Constitution. And if someone doesn’t understand that and attempts to control others by using the levers of power, they’re about serving themselves. They’re not about serving us. And that person is not qualified to be a leader.”....

For the past year and a half, Cassidy, desperate to keep his job and avoid becoming the first elected senator to lose a primary in more than a decade, has kept his head down, sticking to a partisan script and avoiding confrontations with the White House.

But the Louisianan’s term doesn’t end for another 230 days.

It’s possible, of course, that Cassidy, who’s been a conservative throughout his two-decade career in elected office, will keep voting as he’s been voting and will just coast through the next six months in relative obscurity. But it’s also possible that the senator — who chairs a powerful committee — will build on the kinds of sentiments he shared in his concession speech and become a real thorn in the side of the president who ended his career.

When we think about the kinds of GOP senators who are occasionally willing to show some hints of independent thinking, we tend to focus on members such as Alaska’s Lisa Murkowski, Kentucky’s Rand Paul and Maine’s Susan Collins. Since Trump returned to power, few have seen Cassidy as part of this contingent. Don’t be surprised if that soon changes.