Trump launches midterm campaign push in Texas and Oklahoma as Republicans face tough races

US President Donald Trump kicked off a 32-day campaign push on Thursday, visiting Texas and Oklahoma to bolster Republican candidates in the upcoming midterms. The campaign aims to help his party retain its slim congressional majority during the November elections. Trump intends to be the face of the party's effort, campaigning in various competitive House and Senate races.

However, some Republican candidates are hesitant to appear alongside Trump due to concerns about their own electoral prospects, especially in light of his unpopular handling of the Iran war and the rise of data centers that consume vast amounts of electricity.

Trump emphasized his commitment to Republican midterm efforts, stating that he is "throwing himself into it like never before" and that every place he has visited so far has resulted in victories. In Oklahoma, Trump delivered an address at a Peterbilt truck factory, highlighting the success of his policies and expressing frustration over his inability to effectively communicate his economic record.

The president also spoke at a White House event on Wednesday, lamenting that he had not adequately promoted his economic achievements.

Texas is among eight US Senate races considered competitive, with Republican candidate Ken Paxton, the state's attorney general, set to appear with Trump in a stop north of Dallas. Political observers will be watching for any awkwardness between the two men following the release of a recording in which Paxton criticized Trump's convention in September, claiming it hurt him and other Republican candidates. The Paxton campaign dismissed the recording as "manipulated nonsense."

Despite Trump's support for Paxton, the president is expected to focus on his own economic record during his visit to Denton, Texas. He plans to highlight the job growth resulting from his tariffs and trade agenda, particularly at Peterbilt Motors, where more than 2,000 jobs have been added nationwide. However, rising diesel fuel prices, reaching a record high of $5.97 per gallon, pose a challenge to the administration's economic narrative.

Trump is set to rally in Oklahoma, Alabama, and Alabama on Friday, targeting more competitive states before moving on to Ohio, Nebraska, and other battleground regions in the coming days.