Trump’s aides abandon attempts to curb his agenda as midterms loom
Senior aides and GOP donors say they have stopped trying to persuade the 80-year-old president to abandon his unpopular policies, opting instead to accommodate his wishes.
Inside the administration, senior staff, elected Republicans and key donors admit they no longer attempt to dissuade President Trump from pursuing policies they view as disastrous, acknowledging that his 80-year-old self-assertion makes such efforts pointless. Over his second term, initiatives like a $400 million White House ballroom, an aggressive posture toward Iran and extensive tariff regimes have sparked widespread backlash.
Anticipating severe losses for the GOP in the November 3 midterms, party strategists are considering a high-profile campaign that includes millions in TV ads, daily rallies in swing districts and a two-day convention in Dallas headlined by Trump. Yet dozens of Republican lawmakers are shunning the event, hoping to protect their own electoral prospects. While some advisers warn that Trump still wields considerable influence over the party and national politics, others view his continued prominence as a strategic error given his historically low approval ratings.
Why it matters
The shift in Trump's inner circle signals how the GOP may handle his influence ahead of pivotal midterm elections.
How this story developed
- Aug 15 Trump aides say president reluctant to campaign for down-ballot Republicans
- Sep 3 USDA announced plans to fund small and midsize meat‑packing operations.
- Sep 3 Sand publicly opposed Harris’s potential 2028 presidential run.
- Sep 6 President Donald Trump signed an order to change the name of Lake Ontario to "Lake America," a move that only obliges U.S. federal agencies and has limited effect elsewhere.
- Sep 6 Trump ordered a Dallas midterm convention just before Thanksgiving, triggering a ticket‑sale scramble and prompting several GOP officials to boycott the event.
- Sep 7 The order has led to temporary updates on mapping platforms and diplomatic irritation from Canada.
- Sep 7 Trump also directed the Gulf of Mexico to be renamed “Gulf of America” and floated proposals to rename the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, while ordering alterations to the White House grounds.
- Sep 7 A new poll shows Trump’s disapproval rating is nearly double its 2018 level, threatening GOP prospects in the midterms.
- Sep 7 MAGA Inc. filed an FEC report showing a new advertising purchase for the Texas Senate contest.
- Sep 8 Networks have scaled back live coverage of the convention to prioritize NFL opening‑weekend games.
- Sep 8 Republican strategists are distributing free tickets via unsolicited texts and a lottery to fill the venue.
- Sep 8 Trump issued an executive order to rename Lake Ontario as "Lake America" and has renamed other bodies of water.
- Sep 9 Organizers offered five‑figure tickets and hosted multiple donor events during the convention week.
- Sep 9 Texas Democrats adopt divergent tactics, with Tarrant County opting out of press events and Dallas County organizing a rally.
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