Erick Erickson Blames Trump for GOP’s Midterm Slide

Erickson blames – Conservative radio host Erick Erickson pinned the GOP’s poor midterm outlook on President Donald Trump, pointing to low approval numbers and arguing the administration could change course on Iran diplomacy and tariffs but won’t. His warning came as polling als

When Erick Erickson stared at the latest polling average, he didn’t just see numbers heading into November. He saw a president who, in his view, had opportunities to improve the political climate—and chose not to.

On Monday. the conservative radio star posted on X a screenshot of RealClearPolitics’ latest polling average showing President Donald Trump’s net approval rating at -17.. The spread in that average had 39.9% of the public saying they approve of his performance in office and 56.9% saying they disapprove.

Erickson’s frustration was immediate and personal.. “The President could fish or cut bait on Iran and bring some resolution there to help the economy But he won’t. ” he wrote.. He added that Trump “could end all his tariffs to stimulate the economy. ” but said the president has been “convinced by people infatuated with the 1950’s that they work. ” arguing. “They don’t.”

“So the GOP will head to the midterms in this environment,” Erickson concluded.

For Republicans, the concern wasn’t limited to one polling snapshot.. A New York Times/Siena College poll published on Monday set off alarm bells in its own right.. When asked whether they’d likely back the Republican or Democratic candidate if the midterms were held today. 39% said they would choose the Republican.. Fifty percent said they would back the Democrat.

That same Times/Siena poll measured Trump’s net approval rating at -22 points, with 37% approving his performance in office and 59% disapproving.

Even with that pressure building. Trump’s team has signaled it plans to keep its footing in contrast politics rather than try to blunt the president’s unpopularity with a pivot.. White House deputy chief of staff James Blair told Politico’s Dasha Burns in a recent interview that Democrats would face an uphill message problem because of their own record.

“ The Democrats will have to convince the electorate how they’re going to make their lives more affordable when they tried to raise taxes on 90 percent of Americans by $4 trillion last summer.. They are all on the record for tax hikes.. They’ve opposed every single tax cut.. That’s going to be a tough message to stick in the center of the electorate who already don’t like Democrats.. And that’s just the beginning of the contrasts we will make with them,” Blair said.

Blair also framed the midterm fight around what he called the political distance between Democrats and swing voters.. “Swing voters already think the Democratic Party’s too far left. and we’re going to make sure voters know just how far left they are.. They are woke, weak and way too liberal.. And the whole country will be reminded of that.”

Blair said he is taking a leave of absence from the executive branch to run Trump’s midterm political operation. Burns asked whether that meant “going on the attack” would be a big part of the strategy.

“It’s always the strategy. Attack, attack, attack. And when in doubt, attack some more,” Blair said. “The best defense is a great offense.”

Put the pieces together and the tension becomes hard to miss: Erick Erickson argues Trump could act on Iran and tariffs to help the economy but won’t. while Trump’s political operation prepares to lean harder into confrontation as polling shows both a lead for Democrats in a hypothetical midterm matchup and deeply negative approval for the president himself.

Erick Erickson Donald Trump GOP midterm elections polling RealClearPolitics New York Times Siena poll James Blair White House deputy chief of staff Iran tariffs