Senior Trump advisers are privately shifting midterm strategy to cast November as a choice between party agendas rather than a referendum on the president. Led by Susie Wiles and James Blair, the plan emphasizes GOP accomplishments, warns that Democratic control would create gridlock, and relies on internal polling that shows Republican strength on key issues. The effort faces obstacles including Virginia’s redistricting, an ongoing conflict with Iran and rising gas prices, while MAGA Inc.'s war chest and staffing shifts aim to coordinate a national push.
Trump Advisers Reframe Midterms As A Clear Choice — Argue Democrats Would Be Worse
President Donald Trump shakes hands as he departs after making remarks during a NCAA Collegiate National Champions Day event, in the State Dining Room of the White House on Tuesday. - Alex Wong/Getty Images
Senior advisers to President Donald Trump are privately shaping a midterm campaign that downplays defending his personal record and instead frames November’s elections as a stark choice between competing party agendas — with the message that Democratic control would produce worse outcomes for voters.
Background
The planning session, held at Washington’s Waldorf Astoria, was led by Chief of Staff Susie Wiles and James Blair, who is preparing to step away from daily White House duties to run Trump’s outside political operation. Attendees included veteran operatives such as Chris LaCivita, Jason Miller and pollster Tony Fabrizio.
Campaign Strategy
Advisers say internal polling shows Republicans retain a trust advantage on several top voter concerns — even as the president’s approval ratings have softened. The proposed message: emphasize GOP accomplishments, portray Democrats as obstructionists lacking a workable agenda, and present the midterms as a forward-looking contest between two platforms rather than a referendum on Trump.
“Do you want to keep going and finish the job, or go backwards to record inflation and rising crime?” one attendee summarized.
Key Challenges
Republicans face multiple headwinds: public frustration over the cost of living, fallout from a U.S. strike on Iran that has extended into months of conflict, and a recent Virginia redistricting referendum that could create several Democratic-leaning House seats. Gas prices have risen in parts of the country, adding pressure on the GOP message about the economy.
Operations, Funding And Secrecy
Blair confirmed attendees were asked to sign nondisclosure agreements, saying the rules were necessary because “we’re running an operation, not a social club.” Staffing moves — including Blair’s temporary shift to the outside operation and an expected departure by Alex Meyer to assist outside efforts — aim to better coordinate political activity across the party.
Party-aligned groups, notably the president’s central super PAC MAGA Inc., have amassed roughly $350 million, although officials have not publicly detailed how those funds will be allocated to House and Senate races.
Outlook
Advisers argued that the midterms will be decided on core domestic issues and who voters trust to handle them. Their central challenge is converting national party messaging into targeted attacks that tie individual Democratic candidates to unpopular parts of the broader party brand, especially given the absence of a single, unifying Democratic leader to embody that agenda.
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