Trump aides question his focus after Republicans’ midterm losses

Republicans' bruising midterm night has left President Donald Trump's White House staff doubting his focus, according to current and former officials who spoke to MS NOW on condition of anonymity. Democrats took Senate seats in Texas, South Carolina and Kansas, and one White House official called the result "the worst-case scenario." Trump, who blames weak candidates even though he chose many himself, spent the day before the election at the Reflecting Pool and the day after at his ballroom construction site, where he spoke for nearly 20 minutes without mentioning the losses. Both projects cost more than $600 million.

Staffers are described as exasperated that he will not accept responsibility. Morale is said to be low, some aides are reportedly calling around for other jobs, and others are being urged to retain lawyers as a precaution. With two years remaining in his term, allies fear difficulty holding on to staff and attracting replacements, since pay trails the private sector. One source said nobody on the team presses Trump to stay on policy, expecting to go unheard.

A current official said Trump simply does not view polling the way others do.

Summarized by PolitiKool from MS NOW’s reporting. Read the full story at MS NOW →