Trump said he’d ‘drain the swamp’ during his first presidential run. Bill O’Reilly explains why the President will refrain from that messaging now

President Trump is shifting his strategy for the upcoming midterm elections by moving away from his famous drain the swamp slogan. This change in messaging comes as the administration looks to secure Republican control of Congress for the final two years of his current term.

Bill O’Reilly discussed this pivot during an appearance on NewsNation’s On Balance this past Monday, as reported by The Hill. As O’Reilly explained to host Leland Vittert, “I don’t think he’s going to go back, Donald Trump, to on the outside or, ‘I’ll drain the swamp.’ I think he’s going to look ahead and say, ‘I can do this for you if you let me complete the job.’ That’s what I think the theme will be.”

This is a significant departure from the 2016 campaign trail, where the drain the swamp message was a centerpiece of his platform. At that time, the President frequently argued that the country required an entirely new era of politics. Now, with the midterms arriving in roughly a month, the approach is centered on urgency and preservation. The President has explicitly urged supporters to act as though he is personally on the ballot to ensure voter turnout remains high.

O’Reilly suggests Trump will focus on a forward-looking argument that highlights his ability to deliver results

During a recent appearance at the Republican National Committee’s midterm convention in Dallas, he made his request clear to the crowd. “I’m asking you to pretend that I’m on the ballot,” the President stated. “Just one more time, because if we lose, you’re going to lose your border, you’re going to lose your tax cuts.”

The current political landscape remains quite competitive and perhaps a bit precarious for the GOP. Data from Decision Desk HQ currently gives Democrats a 52 percent chance of reclaiming both the Senate and the House. Furthermore, a recent Emerson College Polling survey shows Democrats leading Republicans by 11 points on a generic congressional ballot.

In response, the President and various GOP lawmakers have ramped up their rhetoric, frequently labeling Democrats as communists, especially following primary wins by democratic socialists in deep-blue districts.

O’Reilly also pointed out that the economic climate is playing a massive role in how voters are processing these political messages. He observed that many Americans are currently focused on their immediate financial struggles rather than the broader political picture. He told Vittert, “They’re suffering because of gasoline prices and food prices and other things that are draining their money.”

The numbers certainly back up that sentiment. As of August, annual inflation sat at 3.4 percent according to the consumer price index. Meanwhile, the national average for a gallon of regular gas is hovering around $4.45 due to the ongoing Iran war, based on data provided by AAA.