New York (AP): This is not the run up to the midterm elections that Republicans wanted.
A year and a half after winning the White House by promising to lower costs and end wars, Donald Trump is a wartime president overseeing surging energy costs and an escalating overseas conflict that many in his own party do not like.
He offered little clarity to a nation eager for answers this week during a prime-time address from the White House, his first since the U.S. and Israel attacked Iran more than a month ago, simultaneously suggesting that the war was ending and expanding.
“Thanks to the progress we’ve made, I can say tonight that we are on track to complete all of America’s military objectives shortly, very shortly,” Trump said. “We’re going to hit them extremely hard over the next two to three weeks.”
Trump’s comments come roughly six months before voters across the nation begin to cast ballots in elections that will decide control of Congress and key governorships for Trump’s final two years in office. For now, Republicans, who control all branches of government in Washington, are bracing for a painful political backlash.
“You’re looking at an ugly November,” warned veteran Republican pollster Neil Newhouse. “At a point in time when we need every break possible to hold the House and Senate, our edge is being chipped away.”
Republicans confront evolving political landscape
It’s hard to overstate how dramatically the political landscape has shifted.
At this time last year, many Republican leaders believed there was a path to preserve their narrow House majority and easily hold the Senate. Now they privately concede that the House is all but lost and Democrats have a realistic shot at taking the Senate.
Republicans are also struggling to coalesce around a clear midterm message on Iran.
The Republican National Committee has largely avoided the war in talking points issued to surrogates over the last month. The leaders of the party’s campaign committees responsible for the House and Senate declined interview requests. Many vulnerable Republican candidates sidestep the issue, unwilling to defend or challenge Trump publicly.
The president remains deeply popular with Republican voters, and he has vocal supporters like Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina.
“That was the best speech I could’ve hoped for,” he wrote on social media after Trump’s address on Wednesday evening. Graham said Trump “gave the American people a clear and coherent pathway forward.”
Trump made little effort to sell the conflict to Americans before the initial attack. Five weeks later, at least 13 U.S. service members have been killed and hundreds more injured. Thousands more troops have converged on the region, and the Pentagon requested $200 billion in new funding.
The Strait of Hormuz, a key passage for a fifth of the world’s oil, remains closed. The average price for a gallon of gasoline in the U.S. was $4.08 on Thursday, according to AAA, almost a full dollar higher than on President Joe Biden’s last day in office.
On Wednesday, Trump insisted that gas prices would fall quickly once the war concluded but offered no solution for reopening the Strait of Hormuz. Instead, he invited skeptical U.S. allies to do it themselves.
He insisted that the war would be worth it.
“This is a true investment in your grandchildren and your grandchildren’s future,” Trump said. “When it’s all over, the United States will be safer, stronger, more prosperous and greater than it has ever been before.”
Former Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, a Georgia Republican who was once among Trump’s most vocal allies in Congress, lashed out against his Iran policy.
“I wanted so much for President Trump to put America First. That’s what I believed he would do. All I heard from his speech tonight was WAR WAR WAR,” she wrote on social media. “Nothing to lower the cost of living for Americans.”
Time is not on Trump’s side
About 6 in 10 U.S. adults say the U.S. military action in Iran has “gone too far,” according to AP-NORC polling from March. Roughly a third approve of how he’s handling Iran overall.
The possibility of sending U.S. forces into Iran also appears politically unpalatable.
About 6 in 10 adults are “strongly” or “somewhat” opposed to deploying U.S. troops on the ground to fight Iran. That includes about half of Republicans. Only about 1 in 10 favor deploying troops.
At the same time, Trump’s approval ratings have remained consistently weak. About 4 in 10 Americans approve of how he’s handling the presidency, roughly in line with how it’s been throughout his second term.
Bush, of course, worked to build public backing for the Iraq War before going in. Immediately after the 2003 invasion, Bush’s popularity soared, as did the stock market.
Public sentiment and the economy soured only after the conflict stretched on. It ultimately spanned more than eight years, spawning a generation of anti-war Republicans — and sowing the seeds of Trump’s “America First” foreign policy.
“My hope is that the Trump experience is the exact opposite of the Bush experience,” Fleischer said.
He said Trump must win the war decisively and quickly to avoid a further backlash, saying there could be a “very significant political upside if things end well, oil comes down and markets rally.”
Fleischer added that Trump’s actions will matter much more than his words.
“Ultimately, he is not going to get judged on his persuasion or his explanations or his assertions, he’s going to get judged on results,” he said.
This report is given by Associated Press. The Sen Times holds no responsibility for its content.
FAQs
How is the conflict in Iran impacting the 2026 midterm elections?
Current data indicates the escalating conflict in Iran and subsequent surge in energy costs have significantly diminished the Republican party’s electoral advantage. Public disapproval regarding military overextension, coupled with a $4.08 national gas price average, has shifted the projected control of both the House and Senate.
What is the current public approval of the U.S. military action in Iran?
Research indicates that approximately 60% of U.S. adults believe military intervention in Iran has “gone too far,” while only 33% approve of the current administration’s handling of the situation. Furthermore, nearly half of Republican voters remain opposed to the deployment of ground forces in the region.
Why are gas prices rising during the 2026 election cycle?
Energy costs are surging primarily due to the indefinite closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a critical maritime corridor for 20% of global petroleum supplies. This supply chain disruption has increased the average U.S. gasoline price to $4.08 per gallon, a nearly 33% increase over previous benchmarks.
How does the 2026 political landscape compare to previous wartime elections?
Historical analysis suggests the current political climate deviates from the “rally ’round the flag” effect seen during the 2003 Iraq invasion. Unlike the immediate surge in popularity experienced by previous administrations, current leadership faces a “Bush experience in reverse,” where public support and markets have soured early.
What are the primary domestic concerns for US voters in the 2026 midterms?
Research indicates that “affordability” has emerged as the apex concern for the 2026 electorate, specifically regarding housing, groceries, and utility costs. Data confirms that median-income households now require an annual income of $120,000 to qualify for a median-priced home, far exceeding the current $85,000 median income.
How is the “techlash” and AI expansion affecting energy policy debates?
Data confirms a growing “techlash” among the US public, with a plurality of voters attributing rising residential electricity rates to the rapid expansion of data centers. Recent polling shows 44% of Democrats and 33% of Republicans view the high energy demands of AI infrastructure as “mostly bad” for home energy expenses.
