Republicans privately blame Trump and Iran war for midterm woes, reports say

On the eve of the midterm elections, a Politico report says Republicans are privately blaming President Trump for the party's likely losses, even if they will not say so out loud. We could not load that report. The reporting below comes from other outlets that have covered the same private grumbling.

The Daily Beast, summarizing earlier Politico reporting, said unnamed congressional Republicans privately blame Trump's decision to start an open-ended war with Iran for driving up fuel prices ¹. The war began in February, and AAA reported average gas at $4.30 a gallon and diesel at $6.32 ¹.

On tapeKCRG-TV9: Your Trusted Local News Source · Nov 2

▶4:41

Candidate picks also draw blame

The same account said three unnamed GOP senators and a national GOP operative argue that Trump pushed out stronger incumbents and backed weaker replacements. One example is Ken Paxton in the Texas Senate race ¹. Paxton beat Sen. John Cornyn in a runoff after Trump endorsed him ¹.

Trump has pushed back in public. On Truth Social, he blamed "weak and ineffective political hacks like john cornyn and karl rove" if Paxton loses ¹.

From Channel GOPRepublican senator: House is lost, Trump must own itThom Tillis · 249 plays · captioned, with the source named

The few who say it on the record

Most Republicans avoid naming Trump. Sen. Thom Tillis of North Carolina, who is not seeking reelection, is an exception. In a new book, he predicts a rout for Republicans in November and criticizes Trump's tariffs, immigration raids and the Iran war ².

Tillis mostly blames Trump's aides rather than Trump himself. He also writes that he knows "for a fact that there are others like me" ².

On tapeCBS News · Oct 28

▶9:55

Party figures were warning of trouble months ago. An Associated Press report from April 3 said party leaders privately conceded the House was nearly lost ³. Republican pollster Neil Newhouse said then: "You're looking at an ugly November" ³.

What Democrats say

Democrats have pressed the cost argument since the spring. Rep. Suzan DelBene, who chairs the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (the House Democrats' campaign arm), said in March that Trump "trump went into this war without thinking through the implications" ⁴. She called higher gas prices "this is yet another broken promise from the president saying that he's going to lower costs on day one" ⁴.

Republicans have defended their record. Rep. Richard Hudson, who chairs the National Republican Congressional Committee, said in March that "our policies are making the american people more prosperous" ⁴. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said that when the war operation ends, gas prices "will plummet back to the multiyear lows" ⁴.

What happens next

Voters decide Tuesday. Until then, the blame is mostly private, so much of it rests on unnamed sources. Whether it becomes public depends on the results.

That matters because the party in power chose the war, the candidates and the message. Voters can weigh whether those who now grumble in private backed those choices in public.

The Record

1. Apr 3, 2026AP reports party leaders privately concede the House is nearly lost, with gas at $4.08 a gallon ³.
2. Oct 5, 2026AP reports Sen. Thom Tillis predicts a 'bloodbath' for Republicans in his new book ².
3. Oct 19, 2026Daily Beast, citing Politico, reports GOP lawmakers privately blame Trump's Iran war for fuel prices ¹.

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<h2>Republicans privately blame Trump and Iran war for midterm woes, reports say</h2> <p><em>By The GOP Files Investigations Desk. This article first appeared on <a href="https://thegopfiles.com/story/republicans-privately-blame-trump-and-iran-war-for-midterm-woes-reports-say">The GOP Files</a> on Monday, November 2, 2026.</em></p> <p>On the eve of the midterm elections, a Politico report says Republicans are privately blaming President Trump for the party&#39;s likely losses, even if they will not say so out loud. We could not load that report. The reporting below comes from other outlets that have covered the same private grumbling.</p> <p>The Daily Beast, summarizing earlier Politico reporting, said unnamed congressional Republicans privately blame Trump&#39;s decision to start an open-ended war with Iran for driving up fuel prices . The war began in February, and AAA reported average gas at $4.30 a gallon and diesel at $6.32 .</p> <h2>Candidate picks also draw blame</h2> <p>The same account said three unnamed GOP senators and a national GOP operative argue that Trump pushed out stronger incumbents and backed weaker replacements. One example is Ken Paxton in the Texas Senate race . Paxton beat Sen. John Cornyn in a runoff after Trump endorsed him .</p> <p>Trump has pushed back in public. On Truth Social, he blamed &quot;weak and ineffective political hacks like john cornyn and karl rove&quot; if Paxton loses .</p> <h2>The few who say it on the record</h2> <p>Most Republicans avoid naming Trump. Sen. Thom Tillis of North Carolina, who is not seeking reelection, is an exception. In a new book, he predicts a rout for Republicans in November and criticizes Trump&#39;s tariffs, immigration raids and the Iran war .</p> <p>Tillis mostly blames Trump&#39;s aides rather than Trump himself. He also writes that he knows &quot;for a fact that there are others like me&quot; .</p> <p>Party figures were warning of trouble months ago. An Associated Press report from April 3 said party leaders privately conceded the House was nearly lost . Republican pollster Neil Newhouse said then: &quot;You&#39;re looking at an ugly November&quot; .</p> <h2>What Democrats say</h2> <p>Democrats have pressed the cost argument since the spring. Rep. Suzan DelBene, who chairs the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (the House Democrats&#39; campaign arm), said in March that Trump &quot;trump went into this war without thinking through the implications&quot; . She called higher gas prices &quot;this is yet another broken promise from the president saying that he&#39;s going to lower costs on day one&quot; .</p> <p>Republicans have defended their record. Rep. Richard Hudson, who chairs the National Republican Congressional Committee, said in March that &quot;our policies are making the american people more prosperous&quot; . White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said that when the war operation ends, gas prices &quot;will plummet back to the multiyear lows&quot; .</p> <h2>What happens next</h2> <p>Voters decide Tuesday. Until then, the blame is mostly private, so much of it rests on unnamed sources. Whether it becomes public depends on the results.</p> <p>That matters because the party in power chose the war, the candidates and the message. Voters can weigh whether those who now grumble in private backed those choices in public.</p> <p><em>Read the original, with every source linked, at <a href="https://thegopfiles.com/story/republicans-privately-blame-trump-and-iran-war-for-midterm-woes-reports-say">thegopfiles.com</a>. Republished under The GOP Files' <a href="https://thegopfiles.com/republish">free republishing terms</a>.</em></p> <img src="https://thegopfiles.com/api/rp/republicans-privately-blame-trump-and-iran-war-for-midterm-woes-reports-say.gif" alt="" width="1" height="1" style="border:0;width:1px;height:1px">

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Sources

1. The Daily Beast, “Republicans Plunge Into Raging Blame Game Ahead of Midterms Wipeout” (2026-10-19). thedailybeast.com/republicans-plunge-into-raging-blame-game-
2. AP (via WSOC-TV), “Republican Sen. Tillis calls his vote for Hegseth the 'biggest regret of my career' in a new book” (2026-10-05). wsoctv.com/news/politics/republican-sen/YULP3OCD443UFE5G4DO4
3. AP (via WTOP), “Trump's Iran war leaves Republicans adrift ahead of midterms” (2026-04-03). wtop.com/national/2026/04/trump-offers-murky-path-forward-fo
4. Fox News, “Democrats pounce on $4 a gallon gas, blame Trump's Iran war for 'broken promise'” (2026-03-31). foxnews.com/politics/democrats-pounce-4-gallon-gas-blame-tru

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