Trump launches midterm campaign as Republicans face tough races

On Thursday, US President Donald Trump began a 32-day campaign push across Texas and Oklahoma, aiming to support Republican candidates ahead of their November midterm elections. The president sought to elevate his presence as the emblem of the party's midterm strategy, visiting a number of competitive House and Senate races. Trump started with a rally in Denton, Texas, where he campaigned for Republican Senate candidate Ken Paxton.

Despite some Republican candidates expressing reservations about appearing alongside Trump due to his unpopularity, the trips in conservative strongholds sparked concerns among party officials about potential losses and the risk of candidates distancing themselves from the president over contentious issues like the Iran war and data center expansion.

During his visit to Oklahoma, Trump assured that his campaign in the state was a display of respect for its support of his three presidential bids. He pledged to give an address on Oklahoma's perceived success, emphasizing his dedication to the Republican midterm efforts. During his address at a Peterbilt truck factory, Trump stated that he was fully committed to Republicans' campaign efforts, asserting that every location he visited had seen victories.

At a separate event in Washington, D.C., Trump admitted that he had struggled to effectively communicate his economic achievements since January 2025, when he returned to office. With Texas among eight Senate races deemed competitive, Republican candidate Ken Paxton was expected to join Trump at a rally north of Dallas. However, the Paxton campaign dismissed a leaked recording of the candidate criticizing Trump's midterm convention in September. Trump claimed he had not heard about the recording and praised the party's convention.