House Minority Leader Supports Trump’s Midterm Strategy as a Referendum
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries voiced support for President Donald Trump’s approach to framing the upcoming midterms as a referendum on his presidency. Jeffries, appearing on ABC News’ ‘This Week,’ emphasized that voters are assessing Republicans based on Trump’s performance.
During the first Republican midterm convention in Dallas, Trump acted as the main figure, encouraging voters to see the November elections as an extension of his presidency. ‘Pretend that I’m on the ballot,’ Trump urged. Rather than opposing this view, Jeffries expressed agreement, stating, ‘Mr. President, we don’t have to pretend. You are actually on the ballot.’
Newsweek contacted the White House for comment on Jeffries’ remarks.
Expanding the Battleground
Jeffries detailed the Democratic strategy to elevate various issues, connecting Republican candidates to Trump administration policies. He highlighted the economy, cost of living, U.S. involvement in Iran, rising gas prices, healthcare, and trade policy as key concerns.
Jeffries indicated that Trump’s tariffs have raised living costs for Americans, strengthening the narrative that congressional races are a national referendum on Trump’s influence. He noted, ‘The Trump tariffs…are on the ballot.’
The effectiveness of this strategy compared to Trump’s base mobilization efforts remains a critical question.
Trump’s Midterms Election Strategy
At the midterm convention, Trump proposed a $5,000 payment to every adult American citizen if Republicans retain control of Congress. He claimed the money would act like a dividend paid by a successful company to shareholders, but details on monitoring spending and funding sources were lacking.
This proposal would require $1.35 trillion—raising concerns over congressional authorization.
House Speaker Mike Johnson was questioned on NBC News’ ‘Meet the Press’ about Trump’s announcement. Johnson committed to working with Congress and the president to discuss the proposal, saying, ‘I’ll work with the president hand-in-hand…and we’ll deliver for the American people.’
Where Trump’s Approval Rating Stands
CNN’s latest Poll of Polls reported Trump at 35% approval and 63% disapproval. The average included data from July 22 to August 31 from multiple national surveys.
One survey by Reuters/Ipsos found 35% approval among 1,167 adults, while RealClearPolitics showed 39.2% approval with a -18.4 net rating.
Economist/YouGov’s latest survey among 1,019 likely voters showed 37% approval. Morning Consult found 42% approval among 2,201 registered voters, demonstrating why averages are useful.
White House Response
The White House downplays negative polling, citing Trump’s 2024 election victory as evidence of public support. Spokesperson Davis Ingle mentioned, ‘Nearly 80 million Americans overwhelmingly elected President Trump…’
Ingle stated the administration focuses on jobs, inflation, and housing affordability.
Newsweek editor for this story: Anthony Murray.