President Donald Trump will not appear on next November’s midterm ballot, but he is throwing himself into the races as if his own presidency depends on them. According to nine Republicans involved in election planning, he is already calling candidates, making early endorsements, crafting strategy, and driving economic messaging in an effort to keep Congress in Republican hands.
As early as this summer—18 months before Election Day 2026—Donald Trump urged Republican lawmakers considering Senate or governor bids to instead run for reelection, aiming to avoid damaging primary battles, according to a White House official, a senior Donald Trump adviser, and a party operative.
Such early, hands-on involvement in midterms is unprecedented for a modern president.
“Presidents usually get involved later in the campaign season,” said Bill Galston, a senior adviser in former Democratic President Bill Clinton’s White House. “This is extremely unusual.”
TRUMP RUSHES INTO THE FIGHT
Trump’s sense of urgency intensified after state and local elections on November 4, when exit polls showed voters punishing Republicans over rising living costs. In several meetings immediately afterward, Trump insisted Republicans must take ownership of the affordability issue, according to the White House official.
He reminded his staff that returning to the White House was tied to his promise to fight inflation. Republicans, he said, should not allow Democrats to dominate the issue and instead highlight areas where his administration has managed to bring prices down. “Affordability is the center of our economic agenda,” the White House official said.
Rising costs across the U.S. are partly driven by tariffs Trump imposed on foreign imports. He lifted some tariffs this month to help lower prices on beef, coffee, fruit, and other grocery items. “He’s going to push harder for faster policy solutions,” the senior adviser added.
Trump’s involvement now includes frequent check-ins with top advisers, numerous calls to political allies, and regular briefings on polling, fundraising, and voter sentiment.
SLIPPING POLL NUMBERS
Trump’s approval ratings have fallen in recent weeks amid frustration over his handling of the economy. His approval dropped to 38% — the lowest this year — according to a Reuters/Ipsos poll on November 18.
“When a president is unpopular, he drags his party down,” said GOP strategist Doug Heye, a critic of Trump.
Trump faced a setback last week when he reversed his opposition to releasing Justice Department files on Jeffrey Epstein after backlash from his supporters and House Republicans. His low approval ratings raise questions about whether he can keep Republicans unified heading into the midterms if dissatisfaction over inflation persists.
White House spokesperson Kush Desai said Donald Trump will continue highlighting his record, pointing to drug pricing deals, new trade agreements, economic partnerships, stock market highs, and strong job reports.
TAX CUT MESSAGING
Trump wants Republican candidates to campaign heavily on his tax cut package, passed in July by the GOP-controlled Congress, six Republican operatives told Reuters. The goal is to make sure voters understand they will receive larger tax refunds next April, easing frustrations over rising prices.
The One Big Beautiful Bill Act made permanent many of Donald Trump’s 2017 tax cuts, including expanded child tax credits and increased deductions on state and local taxes. The average individual taxpayer is expected to receive a $3,752 tax cut in 2026, according to an analysis by the Tax Foundation.
But election analyst Kyle Kondik noted: “Tax cuts don’t necessarily mean prices are lower. Voters are still pessimistic about the economy.”
BUILDING A FIREWALL AGAINST IMPEACHMENT
A second White House aide said Trump views keeping Congress under Republican control as essential for self-preservation. With narrow majorities in the House and Senate, losing even one chamber could block Donald Trump’s agenda for the remainder of his presidency.
Losing the House would also give Democrats the chance to impeach him a third time. Although the Senate did not remove him during either impeachment in 2017–2021, the process can consume a presidency and stall policy goals.
“This is as much about Trump as it is about the party’s future,” said a Republican operative focused on Senate races. “The Senate is the last defense against impeachment moving forward.”
Republicans plan to energize infrequent voters — a strategy that helped Trump in last year’s presidential election. In the summer, Trump personally called Representatives Bill Huizenga, Zach Nunn, and Mike Lawler, encouraging them to seek reelection rather than pursue higher office. All three eventually announced reelection bids.
Trump has already endorsed at least 16 Senate candidates, including in competitive races in North Carolina and Michigan, and at least 47 House candidates — an unusually high number this early, according to a lobbyist close to the White House.
REPUBLICANS STRUGGLE WITHOUT TRUMP ON THE BALLOT
Trump has publicly argued that one reason Republicans underperformed in recent elections was his absence from the ballot. He plans to play a central role in the 2026 midterm campaign, highlighting tax cuts and energizing Republican voters.
“Donald Trump’s hands-on engagement is a decisive advantage heading into 2026,” said Kiersten Pels, RNC press secretary.
Democrats welcome a more visible Trump, saying his presence will motivate their voters.
“Every stop on his campaign tour will remind Americans of how he has made life harder for everyday families,” said Kendall Witmer, spokesperson for the DNC.