Donald Trump has promised “big surprises” in the weeks before the midterm elections, as Republicans grow increasingly concerned that Democrats could regain control of Congress.
The President has accelerated his campaign schedule, appearing at multiple rallies to defend the GOP’s hold on both chambers. The party is now facing the prospect of losses even in states considered safely Republican.
Speaking Tuesday at Sparrows Point in Maryland, where he was promoting a multibillion-dollar defense contract, Trump suggested voters could see an unexpected result on November 3.
“We have some big surprises coming up in another few weeks, right Russ?” Trump asked.
He was referring to Russell Vought, director of the US Office of Management and Budget.
“He’s gonna be one of the very important people in the history of our country, in my opinion. He’s got some great things happening,” Trump said.
Trump offered no further details before turning his attention to other Cabinet members attending the event, including Pete Hegseth.
Vought was a co-author of Project 2025 and prepared a transition playbook outlining how Trump could implement the initiative during the first six months of a second term.
Donald Trump has promised “big surprises” before the midterm elections as Republicans face growing fears that Democrats could take back Congress
Trump highlighted Russell Vought, pictured, the director of the US Office of Management and Budget, who he suggested would be involved in delivering the “surprises”
Our News Outlet has contacted the Office of Management and Budget for comment.
Trump’s remarks came as several signs indicated that Republicans were becoming increasingly alarmed about their prospects in the midterm elections.
Democrats have long been favored to win the House of Representatives, where Republicans hold only a five-seat advantage. To take control of the Senate, Democrats would need to gain four seats while also defending the seats they currently hold.
Trump has continued to express confidence that Republicans will prevail, but polling has so far pointed in the opposite direction.
His approval rating stands at just 32 percent, according to a new Reuters/Ipsos poll.
The survey also contained troubling findings for the Republican Party.
Among those surveyed, 44 percent said they preferred Democratic candidates, compared with 37 percent who backed Republicans.
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Independent voters showed an even stronger preference for Democrats: 37 percent supported the party’s candidates, while only 21 percent favored Republicans—a 16-point gap.
Trump has been campaigning in deep-red states such as Nebraska for Senator Pete Ricketts, pictured left, suggesting Republicans are concerned about possible losses even in solidly conservative territory
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Meanwhile, CNN cited several signs that Trump is panicking as well, including his U-turn on his taxpayer-funded ‘love me’ ads that will now be funded by Trump himself.
They also suggested Trump’s reversal on mail-in voting, as well as campaigning in deep red states like Nebraska, Oklahoma and Alabama this past week.
In Nebraska, Dan Osborn is challenging Republican incumbent Senator Pete Ricketts as an Independent.
Trump also attacked South Carolina Democrat Annie Andrews, also running in a deep red state against the late Lindsey Graham’s sister, Darline.
Independent voters could cast critical votes in states including Alaska, which uses ranked-choice voting, where Democrat Mary Peltola is challenging incumbent Dan Sullivan.
Peltola, a former Democratic Congresswoman, was up by seven points over Sullivan, 50 to 43, in the latest New York Times/Siena poll released this week.
In Iowa, Republican Congresswoman Ashley Hinson is urging Democrats to cross party lines and support her in her US Senate race, and featured a Democrat backer in a recent campaign advertisement.
In a press release announcing the ad, Hinson’s campaign also touted her bipartisan work, including on two bills that were signed into law by former Democratic President Joe Biden.
Perhaps even more troubling for Trump is evidence that the GOP is losing ground among Hispanic voters.
This crucial voting bloc helped propel him to victory in the 2024 presidential election.
Republicans made major gains with Hispanic voters that year, but Trump’s standing with the group has taken a hit as his administration presses ahead with its mass deportation operations.
Florida Congresswoman Maria Elvira Salazar, a Republican who represents the heavily Hispanic Miami-Dade County, released a campaign advertisement last month that bashed parts of Trump’s immigration agenda, indicating that her constituents may view some of his policies as too harsh.
Trump responded to the criticism by calling Salazar ‘out of line.’
