ALBAWABA - US President Donald Trump has warned he could be “the last Republican president” if Democrats win control of Congress in the 2018 midterm elections, and has expressed fear that Republican voters might stay home since his name will not be on the ballot.
Trump told Punchbowl News he believes a key challenge for the Republican Party will be turning out his supporters to vote in the midterm elections in November, saying many voters are “frustrated” with Republican lawmakers and not himself. “I’ll tell them to vote, but will they? But will his base turn out in his absence as a candidate? Trump asked.
Trump said he was concerned about it, but believed Republicans will keep their majorities in the House of Representatives and Senate, despite recent polling showing Democrats gaining ground.
A Reuters/Ipsos poll showed 42% of registered voters would favor a Democratic congressional candidate now, compared with 37% who would back a Republican. The poll also showed Democrats with a narrow edge over Republicans on economic problems for the first time in nearly a decade and Trump’s support rating dropped to 35%.
Asked about the potential of Republicans losing control of the House, Trump said he thot he could work with Hakeem Jeffries, the leading Democratic candidate for Speaker, calling him "a nice man."
Trump also refused to say if he thot Senate Majority Leader John Thune should stay in his leadership position, saying he’d rather not comment on the topic.
Trump said of Federal Reserve Chair Kevin Warsh on monetary policy that choices on interest rates are partly up to the Fed chairman but also affected by what he called a “very political” Federal Reserve board. But he lauded Warsh, calling him “excellent” and claiming he did not mean to criticize his leadership.
Trump’s comments come as Republicans prepare for what is likely to be a fiercely contested midterm election that could shift the balance of power in Washington and profoundly impact the duration of his administration.
