Susie Wiles, now White House chief of staff, has convened an emergency closed-door GOP strategy summit in Washington as alarm grows over the midterm outlook. The meeting, expected to include dozens of state operatives and James Blair, aims to share data and sharpen messaging ahead of November. Polling shows President Trump at about 37% approval and analysts warn Republicans face nearly a 6-point deficit that could cost them both chambers if trends persist.
Susie Wiles Calls Emergency GOP Strategy Summit in D.C. as Midterm Outlook Darkens
Tom Brenner/AFP via Getty Images
Susie Wiles, a close adviser to President Donald Trump who now serves as White House chief of staff, has convened an urgent, closed-door GOP strategy summit in Washington, D.C., as party leaders scramble to shore up midterm prospects, according to Politico’s Playbook newsletter.
What Officials Say
A source familiar with the plans told Politico the meeting is intended to "intensify preparations" for what party officials view as a challenging midterm cycle. Dozens of senior Republican operatives from multiple states are expected to attend to exchange data and campaign tactics ahead of November.
Trump has expended significant energy making midterms about as hard as possible for his party. / Allison Robbert/For The Washington Post via Getty Images
Key Personnel
Wiles is expected to be joined by James Blair, who formerly served as her deputy and has temporarily stepped away from public duties to focus on consolidating GOP strategy for the election season. Blair’s new assignment follows a February session in Washington that brought together Wiles, Blair, several Cabinet officials and top MAGA advisers to assess party prospects and coordinate messaging.
Politico reports the series of meetings reflects increasing urgency inside the White House about the midterms.
Political Context
Polling cited by Politico and other outlets shows President Trump’s approval rating hovering near 37 percent, with roughly two-thirds of voters viewing his second term negatively so far. Forecasting firm The Silver Bulletin currently projects Republicans at an almost 6-point disadvantage heading into November — a gap that, if it persists, could enable Democrats to reclaim control of both the House and the Senate.
Wiles has reassigned one of her top aides, James Blair, to focus entirely on electoral strategy ahead of November. / Brian Snyder/REUTERS
Analysts point to several factors they say have dented the president’s standing since his return to the White House, including fallout over how the Justice Department handled certain high-profile document releases, hardline immigration measures, and economic volatility tied to tariff policies and foreign policy tensions. Reports also say recent controversies — including public attacks on the pope and a social-media post in which Trump reposted an image likening himself to a religious figure — drew criticism from some conservative religious allies.
The Daily Beast said it reached out to the White House for comment.
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