Trump hails Vindman primary loss, calls for prosecution

Alexander Vindman, a former national security official who served as a key witness in the 2019 impeachment inquiry against Donald Trump, suffered a stunning defeat in the Florida Democratic Senate primary on Tuesday, August 18, 2026. Trump celebrated the loss on Wednesday, August 19, posting on Truth Social that it was "the most gratifying loss last night" and calling for Vindman to be prosecuted.

Vindman was beaten by state Representative Angie Nixon, a member of the Democratic Socialists of America, in a result widely considered an upset. With most votes counted, Nixon led Vindman by a significant margin, approximately 56% to 44%. The defeat was particularly notable given Vindman's substantial fundraising advantage; he raised more than $16 million for his campaign, while Nixon raised less than $1 million.

In his social media post on Wednesday, Trump derided Vindman as a "real treasonous creep" and referred to Nixon as a "Radical Left Lunatic." He renewed his long-standing grievance over Vindman's testimony regarding the July 25, 2019, phone call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. "Vindman, if you remember, was the one who lied about my Perfect Call with President...