Trump presents a midterm dilemma for Republicans: From the Politics Desk

From the Politics DeskTrump presents a midterm dilemma for Republicans: From the Politics DeskPlus, revisiting Biden’s prediction of a Republican “epiphany.” Listen to this article with a free account00:0000:00Republicans are debating what President Donald Trump's role should be on the campaign trail in the midterms .Kent Nishimura / AFP via Getty ImagesShareAdd NBC News to GoogleMay 14, 2026, 5:15 PM EDTBy The Politics DeskWelcome to From the Politics Desk, a daily newsletter that brings you the NBC News Politics team’s latest reporting and analysis from the White House, Capitol Hill and the campaign trail.Subscribe to read this story ad-free Get unlimited access to ad-free articles and exclusive content.In today’s edition, Jonathan Allen explores the delicate balance Republicans are attempting to strike for the midterms. Plus, Sahil Kapur digs into how Democrats have adopted a more confrontational attitude toward the GOP over time. Sign up to receive this newsletter in your inbox every weekday here.— Adam WollnerTrump presents a midterm dilemma for RepublicansAnalysis by Jonathan AllenOn this, President Donald Trump and Democratic leaders seem to agree: the midterm elections will be a referendum on his performance in office.“I am on the ballot, and my voters love me,” Trump recently told NBC News, metaphorically referring to the shadow he promises to cast when voters go to the polls this fall.That puts a squeeze on congressional Republicans, who are trying to hold their narrow House and Senate majorities. Trump’s approval ratings have dived like a Paul Skenes “splinker” because Americans are upset about the economy and the war with Iran.The fear for Republican candidates in swing districts and states is that they can’t win with Trump and they can’t win without him. They want his endorsement, his money and, at least in some cases, his physical presence on the campaign trail. They need him to energize base GOP voters, but they know he’s turning off the crucial...