Donald Trump's inner circle is reportedly expressing frustration over campaign strategy and the former president's personal focus leading up to the recent midterm elections, which resulted in significant losses for the Republican Party. A report from The New York Times, cited by the Daily Mail, claims that members of Trump's midterm strategy team grew frustrated with his leadership.
Key issues cited include delays in approving the use of campaign funds and a perceived lack of focus on crucial election matters. The Republican Party faced an "historic blue wave" as Democrats secured control of both the House and the Senate.
Campaign Funding and Advertising Woes
The GOP reportedly claimed Trump waited too long to authorize spending from his $400 million war chest. Strategists struggled to gain his approval for fund releases as late as August. One anonymous source described the team as "shocked at how ill-prepared they were." Once the funds were released, the campaign was forced to pay significantly higher rates for advertising compared to Democrats who had secured earlier ad buys. An expert cited in the report suggested that Trump's super PAC spent four times as much as top Democratic super PACs for 70 percent fewer ads in Alaska alone. A single ad spot costing $30,000 for Trump's PAC was reportedly secured by Democrats for just $2,700.
Candidate Selection and Policy Missteps
Candidate selection emerged as another point of contention. Choices such as Michael Whatley in North Carolina, Darline Graham in South Carolina, and Ken Paxton in Texas were considered "brutal choices" by some within Trump's team. James Blair, who led the president's midterm strategy, acknowledged internal issues, stating, "I have seen the enemy and it is us."
Furthermore, Trump's policy positions, particularly regarding the ongoing war in Iran, were seen as detrimental. Polling conducted by Tony Fabrizio, Trump's chief pollster, indicated that voters were wary of the foreign conflict and did not understand its purpose. A ceasefire negotiated by JD Vance in June, which polling showed was favored by a significant margin and seen as a potential factor in lowering gas prices, was reportedly short-lived.
Staff members attempted to persuade Trump to moderate his stance on immigration, especially after incidents involving ICE. This effort reportedly led to internal battles between Chief of Staff Susie Wiles and Stephen Miller.
President's Focus and Distractions
Advisers noted Trump's shifting interest in the race, with days focused on winning contrasted by others where he seemed more pleased with his own popularity compared to the chosen candidates. Trump reportedly told aides, "It says something very nice about me that they just can't win without me."
Trump's focus on personal projects, such as renovating the White House ballroom and pursuing a public golf course, was also seen by allies as alienating to voters. The $5,000 "Trump dividend" announcement at a GOP convention was also reportedly not cleared by many in his inner circle.
James Blair is also implicated in another strategic misstep: redistricting. He presented Trump with a plan to create more GOP-friendly districts in red states in 2025. However, Democrats managed to counter these efforts through candidate recruitment and drawing their own favorable maps.
Despite the election results, Trump initially praised Democrats in a call to Fox News, stating, "Democrats did a good job. They fought hard." He also told The Times he was willing to accept the results and negotiate with Democrats. However, he was later seen at the construction site of his new ballroom, appearing detached from the election outcomes. Behind the scenes, Trump was reportedly seeking a scapegoat, inquiring about the job status of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
Vice President, in a statement, squarely blamed the Iran war for the election losses, noting, "The reason we lost is the war. The president himself said so last night."