Trump’s first midterm ads are heavy on ‘me’
Donald Trump's new midterm advertising campaign focuses heavily on his personal brand rather than congressional Republican candidates. The ads make several contested claims regarding past executive actions and economic policies.
Why it matters
The strategy signals a shift in how the Republican party may approach the 2026 midterms, prioritizing Trump's individual platform over broader party legislative goals.
President Donald Trump’s extremely well-heeled political operation has begun an advertising campaign ahead of the 2026 midterm elections that Republicans have been eagerly awaiting. But the first offerings focus on something decidedly unpopular: Trump himself. The new ads from Securing American Greatness, the nonprofit arm of the pro-Trump super PAC MAGA Inc., seem to confirm reporting from the Atlantic and Trump’s recent comments suggesting the campaign will largely focus on Trump rather than the Republicans in Congress who will be on the ballot this fall. One of the spots, titled “Toughest Guy,” looks exactly like an ad that could be run for one of Trump’s campaigns. It features UFC President Dana White praising Trump’s toughness, followed by Trump delivering high-minded lines about the primacy of America. “We will be prosperous. We will be proud. We will be strong, and we will win like never before,” he says.
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