Republican Issues Warning To Trump
Veteran Republican strategist Karl Rove is urging the Trump administration to more forcefully highlight its accomplishments as the next round of midterm elections approaches, warning that messaging — not policy — may be the administration’s biggest challenge.
Appearing Saturday on Fox News, Rove said President Donald Trump must do a better job explaining what his administration has achieved and what it plans to do next.
“The president is on pace to end the year with one of the weakest approval ratings seen at this point in a term,” Rove said. “Those numbers need to improve.”
Communication, Not Policy, Is the Problem
Rove emphasized that the issue is not a lack of accomplishments, but a lack of clear, patient communication — especially on complex issues like health care and the economy.
“A large part of fixing this is calmly explaining what has already been done and what the administration is trying to accomplish,” Rove said. “The American people need to be able to clearly understand how these policies affect their daily lives.”
For older voters in particular, Rove suggested straightforward explanations backed by real-world examples — not political talking points.
Border Security Remains a Winning Issue
As one example, Rove recommended that President Trump personally visit the southern border to highlight the administration’s stepped-up immigration enforcement and renewed commitment to border security.
Border security remains one of the president’s strongest issues with conservative voters, and Rove argued that visible leadership on the issue could help reinforce public confidence.
GOP Lawmakers Urged to Promote Economic Gains
Rove has also encouraged Republican lawmakers to more actively promote legislative successes in their home districts. He cited the extension of key 2017 tax provisions and solid third-quarter GDP growth as tangible economic achievements that deserve more attention.
“These are real results,” Rove noted. “But voters won’t appreciate them if they don’t hear about them.”
Polling Still a Concern for Republicans
Despite recent gains, Rove warned that low approval numbers could weigh heavily on Republican prospects in the 2026 elections if messaging does not improve.
“The strategy should be simple,” he said. “Lower expectations, then exceed them. Under-promise and over-deliver.”
He also cautioned against overly optimistic economic messaging that doesn’t align with what many Americans are experiencing.
“When families are dealing with higher costs and financial uncertainty, saying ‘everything is great’ doesn’t connect,” Rove said. “That message doesn’t match reality for many people.”
Approval Rating Shows Modest Rebound
According to polling averages from Decision Desk HQ, President Trump’s approval rating dipped to a second-term low of 41 percent last month during the record-breaking government shutdown.
Since then, it has rebounded to roughly 45 percent — about where it has remained since he returned to office earlier this year.
Midterms Are Historically Difficult for Sitting Presidents
Rove also reminded viewers that midterm elections are rarely favorable for the party in power. He noted that only a handful of exceptions — such as 1998 under Bill Clinton or early in the presidency of George W. Bush — broke the historical pattern.
“Midterms are almost always an uphill fight,” Rove said. “That’s why disciplined messaging and realistic expectations are critical.”
