The US president dismissed concerns about his popularity as voters expressed dissatisfaction with the cost of living and the war with Iran.
Published September 29, 2026
US President Donald Trump has announced 32 days of travel and campaigning ahead of the November midterm elections that will determine which party controls Congress.
The race is widely seen as a referendum on President Trump’s second term and could determine whether his political agenda faces legislative hurdles over the next two years.
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President Trump has even speculated that he could face a third impeachment if Democrats control both houses of Congress.
Still, on Tuesday, President Trump expressed optimism to reporters. He also denied that Republican candidates were trying to distance themselves from the administration ahead of the vote.
“You guys love me and I love them,” Trump said, explaining his plans to travel to multiple states to support Republican midterm candidates.
“You have to understand, they all want me to go. I’m a human being. They all want me to go campaign,” he added.
President Trump described his itinerary as “literally a 32-day tour,” and said it would include visits to toss-up states such as Texas and Ohio.
But critics speculate that President Trump’s declining popularity could pose a challenge for Republicans hoping to maintain majorities in both chambers of Congress.
Recent polls show President Trump’s approval rating has fallen to a new low as voters express dissatisfaction with the rising cost of living caused in part by his decision to start a war against Iran that has shaken global energy markets.
According to a Wall Street Journal poll released last week, President Trump’s approval rating stands at 37%.
This is the lowest approval rating for a president heading into the midterm elections since the outlet began polling in 1990, when George H.W. Bush was president.
Still, Trump has positioned himself as a key figure in the Republican Party’s bid to win the midterm elections.
The party held its first midterm political convention in Texas this month, where President Trump delivered the keynote address.
Trump’s allies also vowed to “campaign like it’s 2024 again,” as the Republican leader is running for president for the second time.
Supporters speculate that he will be successful in mobilizing so-called low-propensity voters who are less likely to vote.
But some of his tactics have drawn backlash. The Department of Homeland Security, which has played a central role in President Trump’s push for mass deportations, has recently come under scrutiny for spending $20 million on campaign-style ads praising the accomplishments of Republican leaders.
Democratic and Republican lawmakers denounced the efforts as an inappropriate use of taxpayer funds that could violate anti-propaganda laws.
“We need no reminder that using government funds to produce and air political ads like those that have been circulating in recent days is illegal and a shockingly corrupt misuse of taxpayer dollars,” Democratic Sen. Patty Murray said in a letter to Homeland Security Secretary Mark Wayne Mullin on Tuesday.
