Behind Trump’s bluster there’s a sobering realisation he is losing the public

September 21, 2026 — 2:21pm

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In interviews and speeches, US President Donald Trump has maintained that midterm politics don’t affect his decisions on Iran, that the war has been worth the cost, and that he would do it all over again, despite Republicans bracing for defeat in November.

But in some private conversation with advisers, Trump has signalled that he understands his decisions on the war have contributed to the especially poor political environment his party faces – making the president more intent on helping Republicans mitigate the expected losses.

Trump in recent weeks has become sober about the gravity of the political situation, listening intently as he is presented with often discouraging polling, according to four people with knowledge of his recent comments, all of whom spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss internal deliberations.

That shift has prompted him to take more action on the midterms – pledging to stump for candidates and opening his war chest in competitive races, for example – although it remains to be seen how effectively Republicans can gain ground over the next six weeks.

Trump has long dismissed unfavourable polls, fastening his attention on surveys that present him in an artificially positive light. He often says negative surveys are fake and not to be believed. Increasingly, however, he has accepted his team’s polling that shows his and his party’s poor standing with voters, his advisers say.

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© The Sydney Morning Herald