Overview
- White House chief of staff Susie Wiles convened a closed-door meeting with dozens of Republican strategists in Washington on Monday to coordinate midterm plans.
- Reports first flagged by Politico describe a push to share voter data and campaign strategy to better support GOP candidates in key races.
- Fox News reports that Deputy Chief of Staff James Blair recently took a short leave to steer midterm strategy from outside the White House at President Trump’s request.
- The effort follows reports that Trump’s approval is near 37 percent and GOP concerns about inflation, high gas prices, and an unpopular war with Iran.
- A February planning session with cabinet officials and MAGA-aligned aides set the stage for this wider effort, which outlets across the spectrum frame as a sign of growing urgency before the 2026 midterms.