Trump blames his own absence for GOP setbacks in 2026 midterms
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President Donald Trump argued that if he had been on the ballot, Republicans would have coasted to a landslide in the 2026 midterm elections, pointing to turnout patterns, candidate failures, and his own campaign-style promotion as the decisive factor.
President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social that his absence from the 2026 midterm ballot cost the Republican Party a landslide victory, writing, "I wasn’t on the Ballot and if I was, we would have won IN A LANDSLIDE!" A White House official, quoted by NewsNation correspondent Kellie Meyer, said the mood inside the White House is "defiant" and noted that Trump voters typically turn out when he is on the ballot. The official added that candidate quality matters and that Trump’s promotion of candidates was more effective than the candidates' own efforts, underscoring how heavily the party continues to depend on his personal brand rather than on a strong political bench. The statement also suggested that voters who chose Democrats might later regret their choice if gas prices fall after the Iran conflict is resolved, and warned that Trump’s resolve to oppose the "Radical Left" will only grow stronger.
Midterm polls have closed in several states, including Georgia and South Carolina, with early returns showing Democrats leading in traditionally Republican districts. A CNN voter poll indicated that 71% of respondents believe Congress is not doing enough to check President Trump, and view both Congress and the Supreme Court negatively. Sources close to the president have said he remains hopeful that the final results could be better than early projections, though he has also privately acknowledged the possibility of a challenging outcome for his party, a reminder that the Republicans’ political machinery may be struggling to deliver without him on the ballot.
In related election news, several progressive candidates, including members of the Democratic Socialists of America, secured seats in the House of Representatives, with victories reported in New York, Colorado, Michigan, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey.