Overview
- Multiple Republican campaigns in competitive House and Senate districts have told Trump’s political team they do not want him to campaign in their districts, with at least one operatives saying, “We’ve told them he cannot come.”
- At a Rose Garden dinner on Wednesday, Trump pledged heavy involvement in the final month, announcing rallies and ad plans that include him as the face of early TV spots.
- Top GOP pollsters have advised some vulnerable incumbents to avoid mentioning Trump on the trail because national polls put his approval in the low-30s and show deep weakness on key issues such as the economy and the Iran war.
- Trump and his allied groups control hundreds of millions in political funds, and he told reporters he can spend broadly with about $400–$500 million earmarked for midterm efforts, a financial clout that pressures candidates who need turnout and ad help.
- The split leaves Republicans stuck between losing base voters and funding if they openly reject Trump and risking being dragged down by his unpopularity if they embrace him, a dilemma that could affect control of narrow House and Senate majorities in November.