U.S. President Donald Trump warned that he could be the “last Republican president” if Democrats win the midterm elections scheduled for next November, expressing concern that his party’s voters may stay home, as a Reuters/Ipsos poll showed Democratic candidates ahead and approval of his performance falling to 35%.
Fears of Republican voter apathy
Trump said in an interview with Punchbowl News that Republicans may not go to the polls because he would not be among the candidates. He added that he would urge them to participate, asking: “Will they vote?”
I could be the last Republican president if Democrats win the midterm elections.
Trump said that a large number of Republican voters are extremely angry with the party’s representatives, while stressing that they are not angry with him. He linked his warning to the Republicans’ performance in the Senate and House of Representatives, saying they needed to improve their behavior to avoid a Democratic victory.
Poll shows Democrats gaining ground
Trump’s comments come amid signs of a tough contest for Republicans. A Reuters/Ipsos poll showed that 42% of registered voters would choose a Democratic candidate in a congressional election if it were held now, compared with 37% who would choose a Republican candidate.
The poll showed that 37% of registered voters believe the Democratic Party has a better approach to managing the economy, compared with 36% for the Republican Party, marking the Democrats’ first lead on the issue in about a decade. Approval of Trump’s performance also fell to 35%.
Despite these results, Trump said he believed Republicans would be able to retain control of the House of Representatives and Senate after the midterm elections next November.
Congressional leadership and dealing with Democrats
Asked about the possibility of Republicans losing their majority in the House of Representatives, Trump said he believed he would be able to deal and work with Hakeem Jeffries, the likely Democratic candidate for speaker of the House, describing him as a “nice man.”
As for Republican leadership in the Senate, Trump did not take a position on John Thune remaining in the post, saying he did not want to get into the question of his seeking reelection to another term.
His position on interest-rate policy
On monetary policy, Trump was asked whether Federal Reserve Chair Kevin Warsh should avoid raising interest rates before the midterm elections. He said the decision was up to Warsh “to some extent, but not completely,” noting that he has a board that he described as “very political.”
Nevertheless, Trump praised Warsh, describing him as “excellent” and stressing that he would not criticize him.
