Washington Examiner executive editor Bob Cusack said Republicans are in a challenging position on how to navigate President Donald Trump’s negative public perception.
“Trump is putting these Republicans in a rough spot,” Cusack said Monday on CNN’s The Lead with Jake Tapper. “Do they appear with him or not? They need his base, but yet they have to be independent.”
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Trump’s job satisfaction rating has plummeted during his second term in office, a fact that has Republicans nervous ahead of the midterm elections. Members of the Republican Party, especially those in toss-up districts, have begun breaking with the president on numerous issues, including immigration policies, the Iran war, and tariffs.
In Iowa, Rep. Ashley Hinson (R-IA) is running in a competitive Senate race as she aims to keep the state red.
“Hinson has broken with the president publicly on tariffs as well as the war, and … a year ago, no one was talking about the Senate flipping,” Cusack said.
Campaigns across the country have also provided some insight into who may be setting themselves up for a presidential run in 2028. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) appears to be gearing up for a high-profile campaign. Cusack said he believes it will either be a Senate run or a presidential bid for her.
“I’m not so sure she’s even made her decision on this yet,” Cusack said. “And, I mean, could she win a presidential primary? Yes. Especially with 20 Democrats who run, she could win with 30-35% of the vote. At the same time, her greatest weakness is her electability.”
TRUMP WAVES OFF REPUBLICAN BREAKS AS MIDTERM GROWS CLOSER
The representative may face an uphill battle as a socialist as members of the Democratic Party break with her, according to Axios. Cusack said Democrats may also hesitate after seeing unsuccessful campaigns by former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and then-Vice President Kamala Harris in 2016 and 2024, respectively.
“And I talked to a number of Democrats who say, ‘Listen, we need a white male government, we need to win in 2028,’” Cusack said. “And whether that’s wrong or right, people are very concerned that she would not be electable in the general.”
