Trump’s Midterm Campaign Push Amid Declining Popularity and Republican Dilemmas

President Donald Trump is touring red-state venues—including Oklahoma, Alabama, Iowa, Ohio and Nebraska—while Vice President J.D. Vance serves as a fundraising surrogate. The itinerary includes a steel-mill announcement in Iowa tied to an $18 billion investment from Mesabi Metallics and taxpayer-funded television spots featuring Trump’s image and slogans. Campaign operatives call the effort a “turnout game” aimed at raising Republican vote shares by 2–3 points in competitive districts.

The Hill

Republican candidates in swing districts face three pressures: the war with Iran, rising energy and living costs, and Trump’s low approval ratings. The conflict has pushed gasoline to $4.48 per gallon and diesel to $6.45 per gallon, while 30-year mortgage rates have climbed above 7 percent. Decision Desk HQ reports Trump’s approval at 39.4 percent and disapproval at 59.1 percent, prompting some GOP officeholders to distance themselves from the president’s agenda.

The Hill

• Approval rating: 39.4 % (Decision Desk HQ)

The Hill

• Disapproval rating: 59.1 % (Decision Desk HQ)

The Hill

• Gasoline price: $4.48 / gallon (AAA)

Roll Call

• Diesel price: $6.45 / gallon (AAA)

Roll Call

• 30-year mortgage rate: >7 % (AAA)

The Hill

• Mesabi Metallics steel-mill investment: $18 billion

New York Times

• Government-funded ad spend: $920,000 vs. $362,000 (AdImpact)

CNBC

• Senate “toss-ups” (Cook Political Report): nine contests

El Pais

The administration says the taxpayer-funded spots are public-service announcements meant to remind Americans of national priorities, not campaign advertising.

CNBC

• “The war with Iran needs to end and end quickly.” — Rep. Mike Rogers

New York Times

• “Those self-created outrages du jour distract the media’s attention and ultimately don’t help any Republican who is on the ballot.” — Doug Heye, former RNC communications director

The Hill

• “The advertisement does not have a clear official government purpose and appears to run afoul of federal prohibitions against the use of appropriated funds as part of a general propaganda effort.” — Sen. Maggie Hassan

CNBC

• “President Trump is the unequivocal leader, best messenger, and unmatched motivator for the Republican Party, and he is committed to maintaining Republican majorities in Congress,” — Davis Ingle, White House spokesperson

CNN

• “That period, that waiting time, is where doubt begins to surface,” — Caitlin Durkovich, former deputy homeland security adviser

The Guardian

• “Every state in the country now has live ballots out,” — Ben Hovland, former chair of the Election Assistance Commission

The Guardian

• “It’s very important for people to understand that we don’t have any examples of a country trying to interfere in the electoral process, in that technical process,” — Beth Sanner, former deputy director of national intelligence

The Guardian

Two sources list different totals for the taxpayer-funded ads: $920,000 for national network spots and $362,000 for the same campaign, leaving the exact scale unclear. Energy-market claims also diverge.

CNBC

Election day is set for November 3, when all 435 House seats, 35 Senate seats and 36 governorships will be contested. Early voting began on September 18, with ballots already cast in Minnesota and other states. The results will determine whether Republicans retain control of either chamber of Congress.

El Pais