‘It’s the President’s Fault’: The White House Blame Game Starts Early Ahead of the Midterms
Republican operatives are reportedly blaming President Trump for political setbacks ahead of the midterms, citing the Iran war and failed redistricting strategies. The internal friction highlights concerns over losing control of Congress.
Why it matters
Internal party conflict and strategic failures in redistricting could significantly alter the balance of power in the upcoming midterm elections.
Republican political operatives say privately that the real blame lies with Trump for starting the Iran war in an election year, causing higher prices across the board and prompting a nationwide voter backlash, the sources say.
“Clearly it's the president's fault,” one operative tells Inner Loop.
But Trump aides also know, for obvious reasons, they cannot say publicly or tell the president behind closed doors that his own policy decisions are at fault as they contemplate losing not just the House majority, but possibly the Senate.
The result has been an unusually early effort to find a scapegoat, and sources say eyes have fallen on deputy chief of staff and political strategist James Blair, who organized the Trump 2024 campaign's turnout strategy and returned to the role for this midterm cycle.
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