Trump Vows Full-Court Press for GOP Midterms, Urges Candidates to Lean Into White House Record

POLICY WIRE — Washington, USA — President Donald Trump on Wednesday called on Republican candidates in precarious reelection bids to center their campaigns on his administration’s achievements, even as his own approval ratings decline.

During a gathering in the Rose Garden, the president committed to campaigning in approximately 35 critical contests that he believes will decide which party controls Congress.

The event, described as an “end of summer BBQ” featuring cheeseburgers and cocktails, took place in a space Trump has controversially remodeled since his return to the presidency last year.

Republicans are currently navigating a difficult political climate as the midterm season reaches its final phase, hampered by voter dissatisfaction regarding the war in Iran and the state of the economy.

Despite these challenges, Trump told the vulnerable lawmakers that they possess a winning narrative.

“All you have to do is talk about it, and you’re going to win and you’re going to win big,” Trump said, speaking just one week before the party’s unconventional midterm convention in Dallas.

The president highlighted a decrease in border crossings, lower costs for pharmaceuticals, and domestic economic investment, though he utilized figures that were significantly inflated.

Trump noted that the fate of Congress rests on about 35 specific races and vowed to spend the final 30 days before the election traveling aggressively to those battlegrounds.

He compared this planned effort to the rigorous travel schedule he maintained prior to winning the White House two years ago.

“I’m going to go to every one of those 35 places, and we’re going to see if we can get everyone elected,” Trump said, noting his priority would be Senate and House contests.

Among the specific races mentioned were the Alaska Senate seat, where Republican Dan Sullivan is challenged by former Democratic Rep. Mary Peltola, and the Texas Senate race featuring Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton against Democratic state Rep. James Talarico.

While Trump supported Paxton during the primary despite his history of scandals, he took a moment on Monday to joke about the Attorney General’s appearance and media presence.

“You might not love his look. You might not love his television interviews,” Trump remarked.

“But he was the best attorney general in the country, perhaps. He was one of the best in the entire country. And that speaks a lot louder than the suit he’s wearing that doesn’t look so great.”

Addressing the general difficulty Republicans face in midterms, Trump argued that such losses are a standard trend for almost every modern president.

“Whether you’re a good president or a great president, you lose the midterms,” Trump said. “We’re going to turn that around because there’s no reason for it.”

Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)