Trump Kicks Off 32-Day Midterm Blitz as Iran War and Economy Drag Down Poll Numbers

President Donald Trump launched an ambitious 32-day campaign swing on Thursday, embarking on a cross-country mission to protect his party's congressional majorities even as fresh polling reveals deep public dissatisfaction with his handling of the economy and the ongoing war with Iran. The president's first stops took him to Texas and Oklahoma, where he addressed supporters at back-to-back rallies designed to energize Republican voters ahead of the November 3 midterm elections.

Speaking at the Peterbilt Motors Company, a truck manufacturing facility in Denton, Texas, Trump offered an unflinching self-assessment of his administration's performance. "I give us an A+ on the government, on economics, on everything," he told the assembled crowd. The president also attributed his sliding popularity to what he described as biased news coverage, insisting that his pre-election tour was essential to correct the public record. "We're doing an extremely poor job of promotion and an extremely great job of running the country," Trump remarked.

However, the president's optimistic framing stands in stark contrast to recent survey data. On Thursday, The Associated Press and the NORC Center for Public Affairs Research released poll results indicating that 71 percent of Americans disapprove of the war with Iran, a conflict that has contributed to surging fuel costs. Approximately half of those surveyed expressed anxiety about their ability to afford basic necessities like food and gasoline. Only 26 percent of respondents approved of Trump's economic stewardship.

The war, which began on February 28, has had far-reaching consequences for global energy markets. Iran's decision to halt commercial traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical chokepoint for international fuel trade, sent diesel prices soaring to record highs exceeding $6 per gallon last week. Gasoline prices have climbed similarly, placing additional financial strain on American households and complicating the Republican Party's electoral prospects.

Despite these headwinds, Trump has positioned himself as the central figure in the Republican midterm strategy. At an unprecedented Republican midterm convention in September, he urged voters to treat the election as a referendum on his presidency. "I'm asking you to pretend that I'm on the ballot," he told attendees at the time. He repeated that appeal during Thursday's rallies, telling the crowd in Durant, Oklahoma, "Pretend I'm running, please. If we don't win, they'll end up impeaching me."

The president's warning reflects the high stakes involved. All 435 seats in the House of Representatives are contested this cycle, along with 35 seats in the 100-member Senate. Should Democrats capture either chamber, Trump's legislative agenda could face significant obstacles during the final two years of his second term. The president has also voiced concern about the possibility of a third impeachment, following two prior impeachments during his first term in office.

During his Texas appearance, Trump highlighted the impact of his tariff policies, crediting them with generating thousands of manufacturing jobs. "For decades, you were heartlessly betrayed by politicians, lousy politicians, who let foreign trade cheaters plunder your wages, loot your factories, close up your jobs," he told Peterbilt workers. "They'd still be doing it if I wasn't here, believe me." The tariffs, however, have provoked considerable controversy and multiple court challenges, with critics arguing that the sweeping import taxes exceed the president's constitutional authority.

On the war, Trump attempted to reassure supporters that the conflict would soon conclude favorably. "Just as I promised, I'm ensuring that Iran will be very quickly ended. I will tell you the energy prices are going to be rapidly, rapidly coming down," he said. "We'll win very easily right now. I believe right after the election we'll win, but maybe before the election." Both sides have claimed victory in the conflict, though a lasting ceasefire has yet to materialize.

The president's itinerary for the coming days includes stops in Alabama, Ohio, and Nebraska—states that historically lean Republican. Yet some races that would ordinarily be considered safe for the GOP have become unexpectedly competitive. In Texas, where no Democrat has won a statewide election since the 1990s, Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton is facing a surprisingly tough Senate contest against Democrat James Talarico.

Trump sought to bolster Paxton's candidacy during his Texas stop, calling him "the greatest attorney general in the United States of America" and declaring, "We gotta get this guy elected." The president's intervention underscores the degree to which Republican fortunes in November may hinge on his personal popularity—or lack thereof—among the electorate.

With approval ratings at record lows and voters increasingly concerned about the cost of living and the direction of the Iran conflict, Trump's campaign blitz represents a high-risk gamble. The coming weeks will determine whether his message of economic achievement and imminent victory abroad can overcome widespread public unease at home. For Republican candidates across the country, the outcome of that effort could determine whether they retain control of Congress or find themselves navigating a divided government during the remainder of Trump's term.