MAGA turns on Trump: A fourth of his voters say Republicans should break from the president

Roughly a quarter of Americans who backed Donald Trump in 2024 think Republican candidates in their districts would fare better in the midterms by distancing themselves from him, according to a Politico poll. The figure is 26 percent. Among voters who voted for Trump and also call themselves MAGA, 21 percent agree, while 62 percent say aligning with the president improves a candidate's chances. Politico ties the sentiment to the Iran war, costly gasoline and persistent inflation, according to The Independent.

Candidates appear to be acting on that mood. An analysis found two-thirds of Republicans running for the House and Senate have either split with Trump on major policy or played down their ties to him. Representative Maria Elvira Salazar criticized his immigration push in a Miami ad, Mike Rogers, the Michigan Senate candidate facing Abdul El-Sayed, urged ending the tariff dispute with Canada, and Representative Ashley Hinson called for an end to the Iran war. Few have broken with him entirely. Consultant Jeanette Hoffman described a balancing act between claiming administration wins and keeping some distance.

White House spokesman Davis Ingle pointed to lower prescription drug costs and border enforcement, calling Trump the party's best messenger.

Summarized by PolitiKool from The Independent’s reporting. Read the full story at The Independent →