Trump promises ‘bigger majorities’ for GOP even as midterm warning signs flash for his party

WASHINGTON: President Donald Trump predicted Wednesday that his party will have larger congressional majorities after November’s midterm elections, even as political warning signs that have privately worried some Republicans for months are starting to flash red.

While Trump said the US “is winning so big” in the war in Iran, it is keeping gas prices high, travelers are facing unprecedented airport security wait times and Americans remain concerned about steep costs of living.

The latest sign of trouble came this week from Trump’s own backyard as Democrat Emily Gregory won a Florida special election to flip a state legislative district that encompasses his Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach.

Against that backdrop, Trump worked to rally the GOP on Wednesday night when he addressed the National Republican Congressional Committee’s annual fundraising dinner at Washington’s Union Station.

Before Trump even began speaking, House Speaker Mike Johnson signaled that the party is going to rise or fall with Trump in November, even presenting him with what he called “the very first America First award.”

Trump acknowledged the long odds, repeatedly noting that incumbent presidents almost always lose seats in Congress during the midterms, “even if it’s a successful presidency.” Still, he brushed off concerns, saying he would campaign for every Republican candidate.

“From now until November, we’re going to fight,” he said. “We’ll have bigger majorities in the House and Senate than we do today.”

The gathering comes as polling shows most Americans believe the US military action against Iran has gone too far and voters are more and more worried about Trump’s failure to address affordability issues. That, coupled with a weakening labor market and worries about renewed inflation, means Republicans could face a string of glaring liabilities as they try to maintain control of both the House and Senate.

Sen. Lisa Murkowski, a moderate Republican from Alaska, said her constituents are asking about the path forward in Iran and whether Trump will deploy troops there.

“There’s a lot that people want to know, so whether it’s how it’s being communicated in the media, or how it’s being communicated here in the Congress, I think it’s lacking right now,” Murkowski said.