Trump privately dismissed 2026 midterms and prioritized foreign policy over Americans’ cost-of-living concerns, WSJ reports
U.S. President Donald Trump privately told aides on several occasions that he did not care about the 2026 midterm elections, placing greater importance on foreign policy and his presidential legacy than on domestic political concerns, according to The Wall Street Journal.
The newspaper reported Thursday, November 5, that Trump had grown increasingly reluctant to focus on domestic issues despite repeated warnings from advisers about rising living costs and the political risks facing Republicans.
A senior administration official said Trump had become tired of concentrating on domestic matters, which he regarded as less significant than international affairs and the legacy of his presidency.
Trump also dismissed unfavorable polling on affordability as fake, according to the Journal, despite advisers repeatedly warning that voters were increasingly concerned about household expenses.
The president’s approach came as the prolonged U.S. war against Iran drove up fuel costs and added to economic pressures facing American households ahead of the November 3 elections.
Republicans subsequently lost control of both the House of Representatives and the Senate, with Democrats making the cost of living and the administration’s handling of the war central issues in their campaigns.
Trump acknowledged Wednesday that the conflict had contributed to Republican losses through higher gasoline prices but defended his decision to attack Iran, insisting that preventing Tehran from acquiring nuclear weapons remained a priority.
Vice President JD Vance also attributed the Republican defeat to the war, while senior party figures began examining the administration’s political decisions ahead of the election.
The Wall Street Journal reported that advisers had repeatedly urged Trump to give greater attention to voters’ economic concerns, but the president continued emphasizing foreign policy and other priorities during the campaign.