Trump’s Team Navigates Economic Turmoil in High-Stakes Midterm Strategy Meeting

President Donald Trump’s top political advisers inside and outside the White House met Tuesday to review polling, messaging, and strategy ahead of the Nov. 3 midterms.

Trump’s super PAC and the Republican National Committee have about $530 million available for campaign activities. Those overseeing the presidential operation are now deciding how, when, and where to spend the money.

The total does not include the hundreds of millions of dollars held by Trump’s affiliated 501(c)(4) nonprofit, Securing American Greatness.

The meeting at the Four Seasons Hotel in Washington, D.C., was the second strategy session to coordinate Trump’s political operation with the RNC and GOP candidates. Trump did not attend, but top advisers including pollster Tony Fabrizio, political operations chief James Blair, White House chief of staff Susie Wiles, former campaign co-manager Chris LaCivita, and RNC chair Joe Gruters participated. Most Cabinet members also attended, except Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who was in the Philippine capital of Manila on official business.

Republicans privately acknowledge that retaining control of the House will be challenging as Trump’s approval ratings decline amid rising gasoline prices and ongoing Iran-related tensions.

Trump’s political advisers counter that Democrats remain vulnerable because many voters view the party as too liberal. They argue that midterm elections will be driven more by which party voters reject than by enthusiasm for either side.

Republicans have also initiated an unusual mid-decade redistricting effort that could add up to 10 GOP-held House seats, potentially strengthening their chances of maintaining a majority.

History presents a challenge for Trump’s party. The president’s party typically loses seats in midterm elections when it controls both the House and Senate, often enough to surrender at least one chamber.

Recent polling indicates many voters give Trump poor marks on the economy and do not believe economic conditions are strong. Democrat pollster John Anzalone stated on July 14: “[V]oters feel that Trump’s economic policies have made things worse — because they have,” citing The Wall Street Journal polling data. He also shared a post from economist Justin Wolfers noting, “US inflation is the highest in the G7.”

One Trump operative involved in Tuesday’s meeting asserted: “The Trump tax cuts have saved people real money, and the president is keeping Americans safe. We have the manpower, the message, and the money to make that clear.”

The National Republican Congressional Committee has added seven Democrat-held districts to its midterm target list, bringing its total to 36 seats nationwide. The committee points to 23 Democrats running in districts Trump carried in 2024 as evidence the new map favors Republicans.

The RNC closed June with $128.5 million on hand, a record for the party, after raising $16.7 million that month and posting its third straight month of record reserves.