Donald Trump has reportedly acknowledged to advisers that decisions made during the first two years of his presidency may have damaged Republican prospects in November’s midterm elections.
The private assessment contrasts with the president’s public efforts to portray himself as a decisive asset for candidates, urging supporters to behave as though he himself were on the ballot.
One person close to Mr Trump said he “definitely feels like some of his decisions have led to the dynamics where he’s unpopular and things aren’t looking great for the midterms”. The comments were reported to have been made by four people familiar with the president’s recent remarks.
The reported realisation has prompted Mr Trump to focus more closely on limiting expected Republican losses, as polling shows growing concern about his record and the state of the economy.
An NBC poll released on Sunday found that 55 per cent of Americans believed Mr Trump’s policies had harmed the economy. His overall approval rating stood at 41 per cent, the lowest recorded during his second term.
Mr Trump has also directed significant financial resources towards key battlegrounds. No Going Back PAC Inc, which is linked to Trump-connected MAGA Inc, has reserved more than $68 million for advertising.
Midterm polling puts Democrats ahead
Democrats held a five-point advantage over Republicans among voters asked which party they wanted to control Congress, leading by 50 per cent to 45 per cent. That margin is narrower than the 12-point Democratic lead recorded during the 2018 midterm cycle.
However, NBC found that Mr Trump remained a powerful motivating factor. More voters, including almost half of independents, said their vote would represent opposition to the president than at any other point in three decades of the network’s polling before midterm elections.
Most political forecasters expect Democrats to regain control of the House of Representatives. Republicans are facing difficulties generating enthusiasm for congressional candidates while also confronting concerns over the economy and the war in Iran.
Control of the Senate is expected to be more closely fought, with contests in Maine, Ohio, Michigan and Alaska among those likely to prove decisive.
Recent figures in Alaska and Texas, where Republicans currently hold Senate seats, have shown Democratic candidates ahead. An AARP poll put Democrat Mary Peltola on 46 per cent among likely voters in Alaska, compared with 41 per cent for Republican Senator Dan Sullivan.
In North Carolina, former Democratic governor Roy Cooper was reported to hold a 15-point lead over Michael Whatley, the former chairman of the Republican National Committee, in a Carolina Journal poll.
Mr Cooper served two terms as governor from 2017 to 2025 and is seeking to win a Senate seat in a state whose last Democratic senator was Kay Hagan, who served from 2009 to 2015.
Early voting is already under way, with mail-in ballots sent to voters in several states and in-person voting beginning in Virginia on Friday.
