Trump brand may drag down Republicans in US midterms, analysts say
With eight days until US congressional midterms, polls show President Donald Trump's approval at 33 per cent and 75 per cent of Americans rating the economy as poor. Democrats are linking Republican opponents to Trump's unpopularity, with some Trump loyalists saying they may sit out or vote Democrat
With eight days until the US congressional midterm elections, analysts say President Donald Trump's sinking popularity could cost the Republican Party its slim majorities in both houses of Congress. A new poll puts Trump's approval at just 33 per cent, while another finds 75 per cent of Americans describe the Trump economy as poor.
Democrats, who lost the 2024 presidential election to Trump and saw Republicans win Congress, have resurged by tapping into voter anger over Trump's policies, including his Iran war, trade tariffs, and healthcare changes. These policies have driven up the cost of groceries, gasoline, and medical care.
According to a recent Fox News poll, 88 per cent of registered voters are extremely or very concerned about government corruption, a figure that edges out issues like high prices and inflation. The same survey shows 59 per cent of Americans now prefer Democrats to control Congress.
Some Trump loyalists who voted for him in 2016, 2020, and 2024 now feel betrayed, the journalist Michael Chugani writes. They say Trump broke campaign promises to lower prices and end wars. Since taking office in January 2025, Trump has attacked Iran, launched a trade war, and faced accusations of corruption involving himself and his family.
Several of these loyalists have told the media they will either sit out the congressional elections or vote for Democrats. Although Trump is not on the ballot, Democrats are linking Republican opponents to his deep unpopularity. A Democratic victory in the House or Senate would likely trigger congressional investigations into alleged corruption by Trump and his family, including his reported US$2 billion in cryptocurrency and meme-coin earnings last year and a US$400 million Boeing 747 gift from Qatar.