Trump’s Iran War, Inflation Fears Threaten Republican Grip on Congress

US Republican strategists are reportedly growing increasingly concerned about the party’s prospects in the November midterm elections, as President Donald Trump faces mounting criticism over his failure to curb inflation and avoid overseas wars. According to Bloomberg, strategists warn that voter frustration over the war on Iran, rising gasoline prices and persistent inflation could cost Republicans control of both the House of Representatives and the Senate.

Amy Walter, editor of the nonpartisan Cook Political Report, compared the political situation to the 2006 midterms, when widespread opposition to the Iraq War contributed to major Republican losses. She said the Iran conflict is particularly damaging because it contradicts two of Trump’s central political strengths his promises to lower prices and prevent what he called endless wars in the Middle East. Republican pollster Whit Ayres likewise said Americans have never supported the war and there is little reason to expect public opinion to shift.

The 2026 US midterm elections are scheduled for November 3, with all 435 House seats and 35 of the Senate’s 100 seats contested. Trump’s approval rating has also fallen sharply, adding to Republican concerns ahead of the vote. A recent Reuters/Ipsos poll found that 63 percent of Americans disapprove of Trump’s handling of the aggression against Iran, while only 25 percent approve, highlighting the political risks the conflict and economic pressures could pose for the Republican Party.