Republican lawmakers warn Trump’s economic neglect could cost GOP Senate majority in midterms

Senior Republican aides on Capitol Hill said President Donald Trump is ignoring the economy as the 2026 midterm elections approach, raising fears that the GOP could lose its narrow Senate majority. A Senate aide told the Daily Mail, “People are p— the f— off that prices are too high and things are too expensive,” and complained that Trump has not consulted Senate Majority Leader John Thune or other congressional leaders on key issues. The aides criticized recent Trump moves, including the appointment of Bill Pulte as acting Director of National Intelligence, the creation of an anti‑weaponization fund, and a staged UFC‑style match on the White House lawn, describing the White House as “gone rogue.”

The criticism comes amid a new Economist/YouGov poll showing 63 % of Americans disapprove of Trump’s handling of the economy and inflation running at 4.2 %, the highest level in three years. Republican leaders warned that without a focus on affordability, the party’s chances in the November midterms could be jeopardized.

Speaker Mike Johnson was also cited by a House aide as bearing responsibility for the party’s reliance on Trump, which some saw as weakening congressional leadership. The collective rebuke reflects growing intra‑party tension as the election nears.