A then-rival once memorably predicted that Donald Trump would be a "chaos president."

Now, in this first voting season of Trump's post-presidency, the label still applies. In next week's primaries in battleground states, including Pennsylvania and North Carolina, Trumpism is brawling with itself inside the Republican Party.

The former president's endorsement of Dr. Mehmet Oz for Senate in Pennsylvania may have done enough damage to his main opponent to open the door to a third candidate -- Kathy Barnette -- who is attacking both of them as "globalists" who don't represent the MAGA movement.

While Barnette's personal story is compelling, it has enough holes being poked into it that Trump and establishment Republicans are united in worrying she could cost the GOP a Senate seat this fall.

If things weren't confusing enough, Trump now looks to be hedging his bet on Oz. He issued a statement Thursday saying Barnette "will never be able to win" the general election -- but also stating that if she adequately explains who she is and where's she's from "she will have a wonderful future in the Republican Party -- and I will be behind her all the way."

Meanwhile, Trump's pick for North Carolina Senate appears to have solidified the candidate's lead in the GOP primary. But Trump is almost alone among prominent Republicans in trying to save the career of Rep. Madison Cawthorn in a race where the state's two U.S. senators have abandoned him and where many of his House colleagues are ready to cut him loose.