Republicans are turning on President Donald Trump after midterm losses that gave Democrats control of both chambers of Congress, with several party officials and aides blaming the president for a result they describe as devastating. Democrats gained at least seven Senate seats and have picked up 27 House seats so far, though final totals remain unresolved and several races are still uncalled, including contests in Alaska and Mississippi.
The Senate losses eroded the Republican majority that stood at 53 seats, and a North Carolina seat flipped to Democrats. Trump-backed candidates also lost in Texas, South Carolina, Maine, Kansas, Ohio and Iowa. Some Republican aides point to the president's primary fights with senators John Cornyn and Thom Tillis as having deepened divisions within the party before November.
Republicans offered several explanations for the defeat. Many pointed to voter concern over the cost of living, which dominated voter grievances in the campaign. A poll cited in the reporting found that 60 percent of voters named cost of living as their top economic worry, and 74 percent rated the economy negatively. Others cited the Iran war and tariffs as drivers of voters pulling away from the party, while some House Republicans criticized immigration enforcement and the renaming of places. A smaller group argued that weak candidate quality, rather than Trump himself, was to blame.
Polling also showed Democrats with a clear advantage on one major issue. Voters trusted Democrats over Republicans on health care by 19 points. Republicans still held an edge on crime, the border and immigration, according to the same polling.
Vice President JD Vance publicly blamed the Iran war for the party's losses, adding to the sense of disagreement among Republicans about what went wrong. The internal debate comes as the party assesses its position heading into the next Congress.
Trump retains veto power over legislation passed by a Democratic-controlled Congress, giving him a continuing tool to shape policy even as his legislative agenda faces obstacles. He is expected to become a lame duck facing investigations and a stalled agenda, though it remains uncertain whether his base support in Congress will erode in the months ahead. Party leaders will now have to weigh how much of the blame falls on the president and how much on candidates and campaign messaging as the new session approaches.