‘Disaster of First Magnitude’: Republicans Turn on Trump After Midterm Drubbing

Republicans have blamed President Donald Trump’s policies for the party’s poor performance in the 2026 midterm elections, with one prominent Republican describing the outcome as “a disaster of the first magnitude.”

Democrats reclaimed control of both chambers of Congress in Tuesday’s midterm elections, flipping six Republican-held Senate seats and at least eight House seats.

The results ended Republican control of Congress for the final two years of Trump’s presidency.

Bill Miller, a prominent Republican lobbyist in Texas, placed the blame squarely on Trump.

“It’s on him. It’s not on anybody else. It’s a total, complete rejection of President Trump,” Miller said, according to the BBC.

“This is a disaster of the first magnitude. Nobody saw it coming like this.”

In Minnesota, Republican strategist Gregg Peppin also pointed to widespread dissatisfaction with Trump’s policies.

“Clearly, in state after state, people did not like the president’s policies,” he said.

Trump’s approval ratings have come under pressure, particularly amid the backdrop of the illegal war his administration has waged against Iran.

Iran has maintained control over the strategic Strait of Hormuz, keeping it closed to maritime transit for months. The disruption has significantly affected global oil prices, driving up costs in the United States and elsewhere.

The resulting economic pressures have drawn attention to the connection between Trump’s war on Iran and the rising cost of living facing American households.

According to exit-poll findings reported by Reuters, around two-thirds of voters blamed Trump for high prices, while approximately three-quarters said they were angry or dissatisfied with the direction of the country.

Trump’s backing of Israel has also become a source of domestic political division, amid growing opposition to US military assistance to the regime and criticism of Washington’s foreign-policy priorities.

The Trump administration mounted an extensive campaign effort ahead of the midterms, holding rallies across the country to mobilize support for Republican candidates.

The pro-Trump super PAC MAGA Inc. also spent hundreds of millions of dollars backing Republican contenders. During a keynote campaign speech, Trump pledged to give $5,000 to anyone who voted for Republicans.

Following the election results, Trump took to his Truth Social platform and sought to distance himself from the Republican losses, arguing that his absence from the ballot had made the difference.

“I wasn’t on the Ballot, and if I was, we would have won IN A LANDSLIDE!” he wrote.