By Daily Mail (U.S.) | Created at 2026-08-07 17:40:49 | Updated at 2026-08-07 19:33:16
2 hours ago
Donald Trump has delivered a stunning prediction about his party's chances to maintain power in the upcoming midterm elections while fretting over discontented Republican voters.
As the midterm elections approach and Republicans in Congress hit the campaign trail, the President is concerned whether conservative voters will show up to vote this fall – especially because the name Trump is not on the ballot.
'If I don't run, will those people go out and vote, and that's the one thing I can't tell,' Trump told Punchbowl News in an interview released Friday.
Then the President revealed his greatest open question about the coming elections and conservative voters: 'Will they vote?'
'A lot of them are very angry at Republicans, to be honest with you ... they are not angry with me, but they are angry with Republicans.'
Republicans' odds of keeping control of both chambers of Congress are glum, at least according to prediction markets.
As it stands, Republicans have less than a 20 percent chance of maintaining control of the House, per Kalshi data. In the Senate, Republicans' odds of staying in power are much more favorable at 54 percent.
But the President has a trick up his sleeve to help Republicans – he has a massive political war chest that he can deploy to help his party members campaign against their Democratic opponents.
President Donald Trump questioned whether Republican voters will head to the polls this year given that his name is not on the ballot, questioning 'Will they vote?'
Trump said that voters are angry with Republicans, but 'they are not angry with me'
Senate Republican Leader John Thune (L) and Trump have at times butted heads because the leader cannot guarantee his conference will vote for the President's prefered policies
'I could spend it on pretty much anything I want,' Trump noted in the interview, adding, 'I'm going to help Republicans.'
The President's political action committee, MAGA Inc., has $400 million in cash on hand, according to the latest Federal Election Commission filings in late June.
The fate of Trump's remaining two years in power hinges largely on whether conservatives maintain control of Congress.
Should he lose just one chamber, either the House or the Senate, any legislation the President wants passed would need at least some Democratic support.
The thing is, Democrats have been outspoken for years about their ardent opposition to the President and his agenda, and it is hard to see them finding common ground to push through bipartisan legislation.
During the interview with the Congress-focused outlet, the President also spoke about his relationships with Speaker Mike Johnson and Senate Republican Leader John Thune, or lack thereof.
Johnson, Trump said, is a 'fantastic person.' The two have worked closely together on the President's legislation in the House, and the Speaker has largely been able to deliver votes on must-pass bills for the President.
The same cannot be said of the Senate.
Trump has noted repeatedly his close relationship with House Speaker Mike Johnson, who he has called a 'fantastic person'
Trump said he did not want to get into whether or not he will support Thune should the South Dakota Senator run to lead Senate Republicans next year
When pressed on whether he would back Thune to lead the Senate Republicans again next year, the President did not offer the leader, whom he has clashed with at times, his support.
'I don’t want to get into that,' Trump answered.
Though Trump did note that there was no 'disconnect' between him and Thune, adding, 'I think we have a good relationship.'
Trump has repeatedly requested that the Senate pass voter ID laws, which were already approved by the House. He sees the legislation as imperative for Republicans ahead of the midterm elections given his claims that elections have been 'rigged.'
Thune has worked to get his Republican conference on board, but the legislation has stalled out, and the Senate Republican Leader has repeatedly told the President he does not have the votes to get it passed.
