Trump blames aides as Republican midterm outlook worsens
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President Donald Trump has criticized senior aides over a faltering Republican midterm strategy, while internal disputes over campaign spending and redistricting intensify.
President Donald Trump is attributing the Republican Party's weak midterm prospects to senior aides and political operatives, questioning campaign spending, redistricting plans and candidate selections, three people familiar with internal discussions said. The friction centers on James Blair, who runs Trump's super PAC MAGA Inc., and White House chief of staff Susie Wiles, who until now had largely escaped criticism. Trump has faulted Blair's handling of campaign funds, while some White House officials and allies have questioned Wiles' oversight of the political operation.
Wiles has pointed to Blair, and Blair has blamed the White House legislative affairs team, one source said. "What's really happening is a circular firing squad," the source added.
Opinion polls indicate Democrats are likely to win the House, while the Senate race remains close. Losing the House would limit Trump's legislative agenda in the final two years of his term and give Democrats subpoena power over his administration.
Trump defended Wiles on Friday, describing her as "smart" and "tough" and saying she will remain in her job. "Susie is here, and she's going to be here for a long time," he said. White House spokesman Davis Ingle rejected the characterization of internal disputes, calling the sources "armchair experts peddling their baseless speculation." Wiles did not respond to a request for comment.
Trump has long sought to distance himself from political setbacks, previously claiming he deserved credit for Republican victories but should not be blamed for losses. Nonetheless, he helped devise strategies now under scrutiny, including the redistricting effort and candidate choices driven by personal loyalties.
The dispute intensified after Blair and campaign co-manager Chris LaCivita traveled to Republika Srpska in early October to advise the regional government, a trip that drew criticism for its lucrative nature. Trump described the two as "outside consultants" and warned he would terminate them if a conflict of interest was found.
Senior White House officials questioned why Blair was undertaking overseas work while overseeing the final stretch of the Republican campaign, and one source said Wiles approved the trip without informing Trump. Blair responded that the criticism was "ridiculous and counterproductive" and affirmed his focus on helping Republicans win in November. LaCivita similarly said the team remained focused on the midterms.
Public records show MAGA Inc. has spent about $200 million on the campaign so far, but it is unclear whether Trump will authorize additional spending. He has also pressed aides to explain why the redistricting effort he championed has not produced clearer Republican gains, particularly in Texas, where the new congressional map relies on high Hispanic turnout that may be harder to replicate.
One source said the redistricting "diced up the Trump voters too much." While Trump had indicated Blair would return to the White House after the midterms, two sources said his return is now unlikely. Wiles' future remains uncertain, though a source noted she has kept the political operation running effectively.