Although news coverage in the runup will focus on leaked excerpts and quirky factoids — such as the selection of the Cabinet member who will serve as the “designated survivor” — the aftermath will be glued on the ramifications of the president’s performance. Another GOP consultant involved in midterm races said: “The number one thing the president could do at the State of the Union that would benefit GOP candidates across the country is make clear that his focus moving forward isn’t on foreign policy, but instead on fixing the domestic economy, raising wages and creating jobs.” Although Trump has plans to campaign as if he’s personally on the ballot this fall, he’s facing the worst approval ratings of his term — with 55.8% of voters saying they disapprove, according to the RealClearPolitics average of recent polls, a jump of 11.3 points since he retook office.
Author: Steven Nelson, Marisa Schultz, Emily Goodin
Published at: 2026-02-23 23:50:56
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