Trump Warns He'll Face Blame if GOP Fails in Midterms
WHO:
NBC News - President Donald Trump
Alternet - 52% of respondents from a Daily Mail/YouGov survey
Alternet - 74% of respondents believe Trump should accept election results if his party loses Congress
WHAT:
NBC News - Trump stated, “If we do win them, I will get no credit whatsoever. It’s true. I won’t get any.”
NBC News - Trump mentioned he is in “grind it out mode” ahead of the midterms and is prepared for the worst-case election outcome.
NBC News - An NBC News average of polls shows only 38% approve of Trump’s performance in office, while 59% disapprove.
NBC News - Trump visited Tennessee as the seventh different state since the start of October.
NBC News - Trump canceled a planned trip to Alabama due to Hurricane Isaias.
NBC News - Trump claimed, “I’m very popular, I really am,” during the rally.
NBC News - Trump suggested that Tennessee’s congressional candidates are already on a glide path to victory, saying, “These guys are all going to win.”
NBC News - Trump stated, “If we don’t win the midterms, they’re going to blame me.”
NBC News - Trump promised a $5,000 check to adults if Republicans win the midterms, with an estimated total cost of $1.3 trillion.
Alternet - 40% of YouGov respondents named Trump as most responsible for a potential Republican defeat.
Alternet - 39% of respondents expect to be financially worse off if the GOP retains control of Congress.
WHERE:
NBC News - The rally took place in Clarksville, Tennessee.
NBC News - Tennessee is described as a deep-red state.
WHEN:
NBC News - Trump’s rally occurred on a Saturday.
NBC News - The midterm elections are scheduled for November 3rd.
WHY:
Alternet - A Daily Mail/YouGov survey indicates that 52% of respondents believe Trump would not accept the election results if he loses in November.
Alternet - The survey found that 74% of respondents believe Trump should accept the results if his party loses Congress, including 72% of Republicans.
Alternet - 49% of respondents believe Trump is hurting the GOP’s chances of retaining control of Congress, compared to 20% who think he is helping.
Alternet - 39% of respondents expect to be financially worse off if the GOP retains control of Congress, while 23% think they will be better off.
NBC News - Trump is working to motivate core supporters who might be inclined to sit out the elections.
Alternet - Economic anxiety is a significant factor influencing voter sentiment regarding the GOP's chances.
HOW:
NBC News - Trump is maintaining a frenetic schedule, visiting multiple states since the start of October.
NBC News - Trump used social media and a rally to counter claims about his declining popularity.
(UPDATED October 11, 2026 02:13 UTC)
Trump is currently in what he describes as "grind it out mode" as he prepares for the midterms, expressing concern about the potential for a worst-case election outcome. During a rally in Tennessee, he claimed, “I’m very popular, I really am,” while also suggesting that local congressional candidates are on a "glide path to victory." However, an NBC News average of polls shows only 38% of people approve of his performance, and a recent survey indicates that 52% believe he would not accept the election results if he loses in November.
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(UPDATED October 11, 2026 01:32 UTC)
At a rally in Clarksville, Tennessee, Trump emphasized the stakes of the upcoming midterm elections, stating, “If we don’t win the midterms, they’re going to blame me,” while promising a $5,000 check to adults if Republicans secure victory, which would cost an estimated $1.3 trillion. A recent Daily Mail/YouGov survey revealed that 52% of respondents believe Trump should accept the election results if his party loses Congress, and 40% named him as most responsible for a potential Republican defeat. As the midterms approach on November 3rd, Trump is working to energize his core supporters amid rising economic anxiety, maintaining a busy schedule across multiple states and utilizing social media to address concerns about his popularity.