The president says Republicans face a key challenge in the 2026 midterms as he questions whether his supporters will turn out without his name on the ballot, while pledging to use his political war chest to help the party retain control of Congress
President Donald Trump said last week that some voters may be less enthusiastic about supporting Republicans in the upcoming midterm elections because he himself will not be on the ballot.
“They’re angry at Republicans,” Trump told Punchbowl News in an interview that aired Aug. 7. “But they’re not angry at me. They’re not angry at me, but they are angry at Republicans.”
Trump was discussing the Republican Party’s prospects ahead of the November elections, pointing to the broader historical trend in which an incumbent president’s party tends to lose seats in Congress during the midterms.
The president, however, has a substantial financial war chest heading into the elections. His super PAC, MAGA Inc., had raised hundreds of millions of dollars as of June. Trump said he plans to use those resources to support Republican candidates in the upcoming contests.
According to Trump, the biggest issue facing Republicans in 2026 is straightforward: “I’m not on the ballot.”
“I said to somebody, ‘Wait a minute, you don’t understand, I won,’” Trump told the outlet, referring to his victory in the 2024 presidential election. “I’m not campaigning.”
The president also questioned whether his supporters would turn out to vote without him running for office.
“And that’s the one thing I can’t tell, I’m going to ask them to,” Trump said.
A Decision Desk HQ polling average currently shows Democrats “somewhat favored” to retake the House of Representatives, with three months remaining before the elections. Republicans, meanwhile, are slightly favored to retain control of the Senate, according to the pollsters cited in a July article.
Asked about the possibility of Democrats winning the House, Trump said he would continue to support House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) even if Republicans lost their majority.
“I don’t think there’s even a thought of anybody challenging him,” Trump told the outlet.
Trump also offered rare praise for House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.), who could become speaker if Democrats take control of the House.
“I think he’s a nice guy. I mean, I did. He was here. Yeah, we had a good meeting,” Trump said.
“I think the Republicans are too nice,” Trump added. “Actually, I think the Republicans are much nicer. I think the Republicans are much more gentle than the Democrats.”
Trump said Democrats have challenges of their own, arguing that Americans “don’t want communists,” an apparent reference to democratic socialist candidates who have won Democratic primaries.
Although Trump has publicly clashed with some Republicans in Congress, including over the SAVE America Act, which would overhaul election rules, he has also taken to the campaign trail in an effort to boost enthusiasm among Republican voters ahead of the midterms.
Last week, Trump spoke at an event in Nevada to highlight the “no taxes on tips” provisions included in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which passed last year.
During the speech, Trump focused heavily on democratic socialist-aligned candidates who have won Democratic primaries. He argued that democratic socialists represent a growing threat of communism and warned that they could destroy the American way of life.
“I think it’s the greatest threat,” he said.
