Trump Blames Aides as Republicans’ Chances in Midterm Elections Dwindle

Darwin, October 18: US President Donald Trump is expressing frustration with his senior aides and political strategists as the Republican Party’s chances of retaining control of Congress in the midterm elections appear to be declining. He has raised questions about campaign spending, redistricting and candidate selection, according to three people familiar with internal discussions, Reuters reported.

Trump is not a candidate himself in the November 3 midterm elections. However, he has repeatedly urged supporters to mobilise voters who might otherwise be reluctant to participate, asking them to approach the election as if his name were also on the ballot.

Despite spending considerable time campaigning, Trump has reportedly said little about how his own unpopularity could affect Republican candidates in competitive races or about his role in determining the party’s electoral strategy.

At the centre of disagreements over campaign strategy are Trump’s longtime aide James Blair and White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles.

Blair runs MAGA Inc., Trump’s political super PAC. Trump has questioned Blair’s role in managing campaign finances. Meanwhile, Wiles’s role in overseeing political operations has also generated dissatisfaction among some White House officials and people close to the president.

With opinion polls showing little improvement in Republican support despite substantial campaign spending, advisers are also blaming one another. According to one person familiar with the situation, Wiles is holding Blair responsible, while Blair is blaming the White House legislative affairs team.

Describing the situation, the person said, “What’s happening is that everybody is trying to take everybody else out.”

Several opinion polls suggest Democrats could win a majority in the House of Representatives in the upcoming midterm elections. Control of the Senate, however, remains uncertain.

Losing control of the House would make it more difficult for Trump to implement his legislative and policy agenda during the final two years of his presidency. Democrats would also be able to use congressional subpoena powers to investigate his administration’s activities.

The situation has intensified internal pressure within the Republican Party over campaign strategy and political management.

However, Trump reaffirmed his support for Wiles on Friday, describing her as “smart” and “tough” and saying she would remain in her position.

“Susie is here, and she’s going to be here for a long time,” Trump said.

White House spokesperson Davis Ingle disputed the claims made by people familiar with the discussions. He dismissed the comments as baseless speculation, saying, “Some people are pretending to be experts and making speculative comments without any basis.”

Wiles did not respond to a request for comment.

The disagreements within Republican ranks ahead of the elections have raised questions about the party’s electoral strategy and coordination among its leadership. Ultimately, however, the election results will determine which party controls Congress.

Source: Reuters