Trump famously demands loyalty. Vulnerable midterm Republicans are increasingly defying him in public

Two vulnerable House Republicans from Iowa voted this week for the first time to rein in President Donald Trump’s Iran war powers. A lawmaker from South Florida, Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar, released an ad saying Trump’s immigration crackdown had “gone too far.” And a bevy of farm-state Republicans, including some in competitive races, recently revolted after Trump paused tariffs on foreign beef. Across the midterm map, Republicans are finding ways to stand apart from a unpopular president as they scramble to keep their majorities in Congress. The dynamic reflects how treacherous the political terrain has become for Republicans as the Democratic offensive stretches into deeply red states like Kansas, Texas and Florida. But it also represents a reversal from recent years, as Trump – who is famously vindictive against critics in his own party – and his political operation haven’t targeted defectors.