THIS IS HUGE: Maggie Haberman Just Revealed What Republicans Are Saying Behind Closed Doors, and It’s Not Good for Trump
Maggie Haberman knows how to read Trump’s world better than almost anyone in journalism.
And what she’s hearing from Republicans right now is that they are terrified.
Speaking at the Texas Tribune Festival on Friday, the New York Times reporter and CNN commentator said Republicans are “completely freaked out” about the midterm elections.
Her exact words: “Every Republican I talk to is completely freaked out. It’s gonna be bad.”
Let that sink in.
This isn’t a Democratic strategist trying to rally the base. It isn’t a partisan pundit. It’s one of the most well-sourced political reporters in the country, telling an audience what she is hearing from Republicans themselves.
And the numbers back up the panic.
Trump’s approval rating is far underwater in every reputable poll. His second term has been marked by inflation tied to his tariffs, plus the war on Iran that he launched in February. In one survey, Democrats lead Republicans on the generic congressional ballot 51% to 43%.
The GOP, which narrowly controls the House, is widely expected to lose the lower chamber and possibly the Senate.
And you can see the fear playing out in real time.
Several Republicans in tight races have started running away from Trump. Rep. Byron Donalds, who is running for governor in Florida, has reportedly scrubbed mentions of Trump from his campaign website. This is the same Donalds who was once one of Trump’s loudest supporters.
Sen. Roger Marshall, who is in a closer-than-expected race in Kansas, even posted this week that ICE should “coordinate with our local law enforcement,” a notable shift from a party that has offered full-throated support of the agency.
When Republicans start distancing themselves from Trump, you know they’re feeling the heat.
November is coming.
And according to Maggie Haberman, Republicans know exactly what that means.
