A Trump associate said the former president is 'pulling strings behind the scenes' in 2022 GOP primaries, likened him to 'The Godfather's' Vito Corleone: report

 Former President Donald Trump endorsed Rep. Ted Budd of North Carolina in the 2022 North Carolina Senate race. AP Photo/Chris Seward

Former President Trump is playing an outsized role in molding GOP primaries in key 2022 races.

An individual close to Trump even likened him to the mob boss Vito Corleone from "The Godfather."

The former president has sought to boost candidates in North Carolina, Georgia, and Alabama.

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Former President Donald Trump has raised the stakes in his mission to mold the GOP to his liking, eagerly wading into 2022 Republican primaries to boost particular candidates — and in some cases — seeking to push out party members that he has soured on, according to a CNN 

In three states — North Carolina, Georgia, and Alabama — the former president has played an outsized role in propping up candidates that have earned his endorsement while looking to push out Republicans who didn't make the cut.

According to CNN, an individual close to Trump even compared him to the mob boss Vito Corleone from the film "The Godfather," pointing to the former president's efforts to purge the GOP of lawmakers who criticized him over his role in the January 6 riot, as well as those who backed the $1.2 trillion bipartisan infrastructure bill championed by President Joe Biden.

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According to the individual, Trump has been "pulling strings behind the scenes and guiding candidates in the right direction."

A year before the midterm elections, the former president is mapping out his strategy to propel loyalists to key political positions.

Earlier in November, Trump reached out to Rep. Madison Cawthorn, a conservative freshman from North Carolina, to convince former Rep. Mark Walker to end his bid to become the Tar Heel state's next US senator next year, since the former president has already endorsed Rep. Ted Budd in the race, according to individuals familiar with the situation who spoke with CNN

Several polls have shown Walker behind Budd and former Gov. Pat McCrory, who is also competing in the primary, and Republicans who have thrown their support behind Budd believe he could gain some traction over McCrory if the vote wasn't splintered among conservatives.

Walker, who did not respond to CNN regarding the development, is now thinking about shifting gears to a House campaign, according to individuals connected to the former congressman who spoke with.