Three people familiar with internal discussions said President Donald Trump has been faulting senior aides and political operatives for problems with the Republican midterm approach, according to Reuters.
He has raised questions about how campaign money is being used, criticized the results of redistricting, and expressed doubts about some candidate selections as the party tries to hold on to Congress.
Although Trump himself is not running on November 3, he has urged supporters to treat the races as if he is on the ballot in hopes of turning out people who might otherwise sit out the election.
Scrutiny turns to spending totals, redistricting outcomes, and foreign work
He has maintained a heavy campaign schedule while largely steering clear of any discussion about the part he played in setting the strategy or the effect his low standing with voters is having on Republican candidates in competitive contests.
The sharpest friction has involved James Blair, who oversees Trump’s super PAC MAGA Inc., and White House chief of staff, Susie Wiles. Trump has criticized Blair’s management of campaign funds, and some White House officials and allies have questioned how closely Wiles has been watching the political operation.
Advisers have begun pointing fingers at one another as Trump presses for explanations on why the spending has not lifted Republican polling numbers. According to one of the people, Wiles has directed criticism toward Blair, while Blair has blamed the White House legislative affairs team. “What’s really happening is a circular firing squad,” the person said.
According to Decision Desk HQ, the Democrats have a 77% chance of winning the House. It also says that the Democrats have a 56% chance of winning the Senate. Trump’s own approval numbers have also been in shambles.
A loss of the House would restrict Trump’s ability to advance legislation over the final two years of his term and allow Democrats to use subpoena power to examine his administration. On Friday, Trump stood by Wiles, describing her as “smart” and “tough” and stating she would continue in the role. “Susie is here, and she’s going to be here for a long time,” he said.
White House spokesman Davis Ingle dismissed the accounts from the sources, calling them “armchair experts peddling their baseless speculation.” Wiles did not reply to a request for comment.
Trump has a history of separating himself from unfavorable political results. He did not accept his loss in the 2020 election, and ahead of the 2022 midterms he said he deserved “all the credit” if Republicans succeeded but “should not be blamed at all” if they fell short. He has also noted recently that the president’s party usually faces challenges in midterm elections.
Some of the approaches Trump is now questioning were ones he helped design and advance, among them the redistricting push and the selection of candidates influenced by his personal loyalties or grievances.
Public records show MAGA Inc. has spent $200 million so far, and Trump has asked why polling in key races has not improved despite that outlay. It remains unclear whether he will sign off on additional spending before Election Day, one of the sources said.
Trump has also pressed political aides and advisers in the past week to explain why the redistricting effort he personally pushed has not produced clearer Republican advantages, two sources said. Texas has drawn particular attention.
Republicans redrew the state’s congressional map in an effort to pick up seats, but the plan depends in part on Hispanic voters showing up the way they did in 2024. Opinion polls suggest that level of support may be hard to repeat because of concerns about the cost of living and Trump’s handling of the economy.
Some Republicans worry the new lines could backfire and leave incumbents more exposed rather than stronger. “The redistricting diced up the Trump voters too much,” one of the sources said. The anxiety seems to be growing in the Republican camp ahead of the midterms, as they increasingly worry the midterms are becoming all about Trump.
Trump had previously said Blair was expected to return to the White House after the midterms and described his departure as a “short leave of absence.” Two sources said that return is now unlikely.
“He’s not coming back. That is not happening,” one of them said. The outlook for Wiles is less certain. She played a central role in Trump’s 2024 victory and has been credited by Trump allies and aides with bringing greater discipline to his White House in the second term. A fourth source close to the White House said Trump “may be annoyed at certain things but she has effectively kept that machine going.”
Published: Oct 18, 2026 09:15 am