Trump Withholds Backing for Thune as Republicans Trail Democrats by 8 Points
Updated
Updated · CNN · Aug 7
Trump Withholds Backing for Thune as Republicans Trail Democrats by 8 Points
3 articles · Updated · CNN · Aug 7
Summary
Trump said angry voters are targeting Republicans, not him, and declined to endorse Senate Majority Leader John Thune for another term, citing disagreements over strategy and the filibuster.
An 8-point Democratic lead on the generic congressional ballot underscores the pressure: Democrats also hold a 20-point edge among extremely motivated voters, while 63% of Americans say the GOP is paying too little attention to living costs.
Trump defended his midterm role by pointing to campaign stops and endorsements, while saying he is not the one on the ballot and does not need to campaign for himself.
MAGA Inc.'s $400 million war chest will be used to help Republicans, Trump said, though his team has not said how much it will spend or when the money will start flowing.
The Thune split has widened as Trump pushes the SAVE America Act and demands an end to the filibuster; he was notably warmer toward House Speaker Mike Johnson.