BS BRIEF:
- President Trump celebrated a perfect 7-0 night in Arizona after every Republican candidate he endorsed won Tuesday’s key primary contests, underscoring his continued influence inside the GOP.
- During a heated CNN panel discussion, Geraldo Rivera accused Trump of having “made liars of the entire Republican Party,” arguing Republicans cannot answer who won the 2020 election.
- Trump’s political grip remains a central storyline heading into the 2026 midterms as both supporters and critics view Arizona as an important test of MAGA’s electoral strength.
GERALDO UNLOADS AFTER MAGA’S ARIZONA SWEEP, CLAIMS TRUMP ‘MADE LIARS’ OF GOP
President Donald Trump spent Wednesday celebrating what he called a “BIG NIGHT FOR MAGA” after every Republican candidate he endorsed emerged victorious in Arizona’s closely watched primary elections. The clean sweep reinforced Trump’s standing as the dominant force inside Republican politics just months before the midterm elections.
The election results quickly became fodder for another contentious debate on CNN’s NewsNight, where the panel shifted from Arizona’s races to the lingering political battles over the 2020 presidential election.
Media personality Geraldo Rivera, once one of Trump’s most vocal media allies before becoming a frequent critic, delivered perhaps the night’s most memorable line.
“The biggest story, political story, [is] how Donald Trump, the president of the United States, has made liars of the entire Republican Party,” Rivera said during the discussion.
Rivera continued by arguing that Republicans should be willing to answer a straightforward question about the 2020 election.
“When you ask a straight-honest question, ‘Who won the election?’ If they can’t answer that question, then everything else they’re saying is BS.”
His remarks came after fellow panelists criticized Trump’s endorsements of Arizona Republicans whom they described as continuing to question aspects of the 2020 election. Former GOP communications strategist Tara Setmayer argued Trump is “telegraphing” his strategy for future elections by supporting candidates who continue relitigating 2020.
Geraldo Rivera: Trump has made ‘liars’ of the Republican party@GeraldoRivera pic.twitter.com/nV69QFVad9
— CNN NewsNight with Abby Phillip (@CNN_NewsNight) July 23, 2026
Rivera largely sidestepped those predictions and instead focused on what he described as internal Republican “groupthink.”
“How did we get there, for God’s sake?” Rivera asked before noting, “I’m a Republican.”
The comments came just hours after Arizona Republicans delivered victories to Trump’s preferred candidates, including Rep. Andy Biggs in the gubernatorial primary and several other Trump-backed hopefuls farther down the ballot. Political analysts across the spectrum viewed the results as another demonstration that Trump’s endorsement remains one of the most valuable assets in Republican primary politics.
While critics continue to argue Trump’s influence is reshaping the GOP around loyalty to the former president, recent political analysis has also shown that Trump’s support among Republican voters remains exceptionally strong, with MAGA voters especially energized ahead of November.
MY TAKE:
Rivera is certainly entitled to his opinion, and nobody should begrudge spirited political debate. But declaring that an entire political party has become “liars” because millions of voters disagree with your view is the kind of sweeping rhetoric that makes for dramatic television far more than thoughtful analysis.
Cable news thrives on conflict. Arizona voters, meanwhile, were busy casting ballots.
Whether one cheers or criticizes Trump’s continued dominance, the primary results speak for themselves: Republican voters—not CNN panels—are still writing the story.
DBS WIRE SOURCES:
- Mediaite — Geraldo Rivera Warns Trump Has ‘Made Liars’ of GOP in Tirade Against MAGA ‘Groupthink’
- CNN Transcript — CNN NewsNight panel discussion featuring Geraldo Rivera’s comments CNN transcript
- Fox News — Trump flexes GOP muscle in Arizona primaries as Democrats dodge far-left upset Fox News story
- CNN (via KQ2) — Trump-backed Andy Biggs wins GOP nomination for governor and other Arizona primary takeaways CNN Arizona primary recap
