President Donald Trump said he is worried about anticipating a poor Republican showing in the 2026 midterms, a rare hint of political vulnerability from the president as the government shutdown raises risks for him.
Why It Matters
Trump rarely voices unease about his or his party’s political prospects, let alone acknowledging worry in the run-up to the 2026 midterms when the Democrats will hope to retake control of the House and Senate.
Historically, the party in the White House loses seats in the midterms, and recent polls show Trump’s approval has fallen since the beginning of his second administration, fueling Democratic hopes for a repeat of a 2018-style “blue wave.”
What To Know
Trump, in an interview with the OAN network, expressed doubts about Republican hopes in the November 2026 elections. “The one thing that I worry about is that, if you look over many, many years, I don’t have the numbers, but the person that wins the presidency always seems to lose the midterms,” he said.
He did not elaborate and went on to expound upon his achievements.
Only twice since 1938 has the president’s party not lost ground in midterms, the Brookings Institution said in an August report.
“The president’s party almost always loses ground in midterm House elections, as has happened in 20 of the past 22 midterm elections stretching back to 1938, and both exceptions reflected unusual circumstances,” it said.
The exceptions were in 2002, when approval of President George W. Bush was high after the September 11 attacks the previous year, and in 1998, after Republicans tried but failed to impeach President Bill Clinton and remove him from office.
Trump’s comments came as a polling tracker showed his approval rating hitting a record low for his second term. The Vote Hub polling tracker showed that on September 30, Trump’s net approval rating hit -10 points, with 43 percent approving and 53 percent disapproving.
It has since bounced back slightly as the government shutdown has kicked in, with 44 percent approving and 53 percent still disapproving as of October 2, giving him a net approval of -9 points.
Trump’s slipping approval underscores the political risks he faces as the shutdown unfolds. While his core supporters remain loyal, sustained disapproval among the broader public could weaken his leverage in negotiations with Congress and erode confidence in his leadership.
What People Are Saying
Trump said of the economy in his interview with OAN: “We are becoming a country that is so rich, so powerful, it gives us power, so rich … the numbers we’re making, nobody thought it was possible. Now they’re all saying, ‘Trump was right.’”
What Happens Next
While betting odds suggest many Americans believe the shutdown could last for weeks, it is unclear how long it will continue. Multiple agencies have halted nonessential services until further notice. The Trump administration has signaled the government stoppage could be used to make further cuts to the federal workforce.
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