President Donald Trump wearing a "happy Trump" pin speaks during a meeting with oil industry executives at the White House in Washington, D.C., January 9, 2026. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque
President Donald Trump seems to be doing everything in his power to crash the GOP's chances of success in the midterms, and as a new piece for The i Paper argued, he already has an excuse ready to absolve himself of blame when it happens.
In the piece, published Sunday, journalist Sarah Baxter wrote that Trump remains committed to taking revenge on his perceived enemies, "Whatever it costs, whatever it takes," even as his fixations continue to sink the GOP's midterm odds, and now "all his dastardly plans for revenge are going wrong." Beyond payback, she added that he also remains focused on "glorifying himself with grandiose building projects in Washington," leaving him with the combo of "renovation and revenge," at the expense of anything that might show concern for the real issues impacting voters.
"Somewhere in... Trump’s brain there ought to be room for the kitchen table concerns of voters on the economy, inflation, fuel prices – the stuff of everyday life," Baxter wrote. "They’re feeling crowded out by his petty fixations. Monthly job figures have just been revised downwards, there has been no sign of a promised World Cup hospitality and leisure industry bump, and the Iran war has passed the five-month mark. According to a Quinnipac poll, 68 per cent of voters think Trump is not focused enough on addressing their problems."
The actions of the president are often enough for voters to revolt against their party in the midterms, but Trump's petty fixations, Baxter argued, now appear to be spreading amongst other elected Republicans. Earlier this week, the Senate Homeland Committee voted to hold Dr. Anthony Fauci in contempt for his use of the Fifth Amendment to refuse questions at a recent hearing, which he said was motivated by Republicans' obsession with getting revenge on him for COVID-19 restrictions. This, she added, was "all a ridiculous waste of time."
"Asking Trump to stop his petty behaviour is like asking him to stop breathing," Baxter continued. "His thirst for revenge has previously served him well in business and politics. The MAGA movement loves him for it. 'I am your justice… I am your retribution,' he vowed during his campaign to take back the White House."
She added: "But the Midterms are a chance for voters to say 'what about us?' They will be asking if the US is heading in the right direction two years into Trump’s presidency."
Baxter further highlighted recent comments Trump made in an interview with Puncbowl News, which seem to be a preview of the excuse he will deploy to deflect blame for Republicans getting wiped out in the midterms.
"They’re angry at Republicans, but they’re not angry at me," Trump said.
"Nothing is ever his fault," Baxter concluded.
