Republican operatives cite President Trump for midterm setbacks as Democrats gain control of Congress

Republican donors and party insiders said President Donald Trump’s decisions were a primary factor in the GOP’s defeat in Tuesday’s midterm elections, which handed Democrats control of both chambers of Congress.

"Look, first and foremost, this is a Trump loss," said Dan Eberhart, a chief executive officer in the oil-drilling sector and a prominent Republican donor.

Eberhart and other GOP aides pointed to the president’s involvement in candidate selections and his public criticism of several senators as weakening the party’s electoral map. One aide noted that Trump’s “primary revenge tour and antagonizing senators” opened opportunities for Democratic challengers.

In the Senate, Democrats secured seven pickups on election night, with additional contests in Alaska and Mississippi still pending. In the House, Democrats recorded 27 pickups and were projected to win roughly 250 seats.

Republican commentators also highlighted policy issues, including the administration’s stance on tariffs and the war in Iran, as factors that may have shifted voter sentiment away from the GOP.

"Trump ignored affordability completely," said another Republican aide, adding that the removal of experienced senators and the promotion of less-known candidates hurt the party’s performance.

A former House Republican criticized the party’s focus on “bluster” rather than legislative work, while another cited concerns about candidate quality, immigration enforcement, and a perceived shift from traditional conservatism toward populism.

Outside advisor Alex Bruesewitz posted on X that many Republican candidates were “uninspiring, lazy, and thoroughly ineffective communicators.”

The commentary reflects internal debate within the Republican ranks about the impact of President Trump’s leadership on the party’s electoral outlook.