President Donald Trump acknowledged that the chances of Republicans succeeding in the upcoming midterm elections are low, stating that voters are angry at representatives of his party. At the same time, he insisted that this discontent is not personally directed at him.
About three months before the midterm elections, the president and his allies are actively campaigning for Republican candidates and criticizing the policies of the Democrats, hoping to maintain the fragile majority of the Republican Party in Congress. Meanwhile, the campaign is taking place under difficult conditions for Trump, as his approval rating is at a record low, and opponents blame him for rising prices due to the unpopular conflict with Iran.
“The question is whether they will vote? Because many of them are very angry at the Republicans, to be honest,” said Trump in an interview with Punchbowl News, which aired on Friday. At the same time, he added: “I mean, they are angry at the Republicans, but they are not angry at me. They are not angry at me.” Polls generally show that most Americans are dissatisfied with Trump’s performance. A recent Reuters/Ipsos poll recorded his approval rating at 35%. Another AP/NORC poll in July showed 33%, and a Quinnipiac University study showed 32%.
Impact of the conflict with Iran on ratings
A significant part of the discontent seems to be related to the ongoing military conflict with Iran. Trump’s decision to strike Iran earlier this year led to a protracted conflict in which at least 18 American servicemen were killed, gasoline prices rose by 1 dollar, and inflation accelerated. Supporters of the MAGA movement more often support Trump’s policy towards Iran, but even among them, the level of support has decreased in recent months as the president alternates between continuing strikes and talking about the possibility of a peace agreement.
Some Republicans have warned that the negative impact of the conflict with Iran, especially on the economy, could harm their positions in the upcoming midterm elections. During the election campaign, Trump promised to reduce the everyday expenses of Americans and not to start new wars.
Historical trends of midterm elections
Republican lawmakers already expected difficult midterm elections, as historically the president’s party loses seats in Congress as voters seek change. Over the past 80 years, the party of the incumbent president has increased its representation in Congress only twice, and both cases were related to exceptional circumstances — the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 and the impeachment of former President Bill Clinton.
During the Punchbowl News interview, Trump recalled that midterm elections are traditionally difficult for the party in power but remained optimistic. “I think we will win,” he said. “Not all presidents were bad. We had good presidents, but even they usually lose midterm elections. I don’t know why. Nevertheless, I think we should easily win,” added Trump.
Source: Independent
