President Donald Trump joined Fox News host Trey Gowdy on Sunday night to reflect on his presidency and outline his strategy for the 2026 midterm elections, pledging to campaign for Republican candidates with the same intensity he brought to his 2024 presidential race.
In the exclusive interview on “Sunday Night in America with Trey Gowdy,” Trump acknowledged a historical reality that has long plagued sitting presidents: parties in power typically lose ground during midterm elections, according to Bloomberg. Yet Trump expressed confidence that Republicans would perform well despite holding majorities in both the House and Senate.
Trump outlined an aggressive midterm strategy centered on his track record of endorsements. According to multiple tracking sources, Trump’s 2026 primary endorsement success rate stands at approximately 96 to 97 percent, with over 300 candidates he backed winning their races. This high success rate underscores his continued sway over Republican voters heading into the general election season.
The president’s pledge to campaign vigorously mirrors the approach that delivered him victory in 2024. Fox News reported that Trump discussed his “high endorsement success rate and outlined his strategy to campaign vigorously for candidates” during the interview. His willingness to pour resources and personal attention into midterm races reflects the central role he now plays in Republican electoral strategy.
The interview also touched on foreign policy, with Trump touting what he described as his administration’s actions against Iran, including a blockade he characterized as “unbelievable.” This discussion reflected Trump’s broader effort to frame his presidency as one of strength on the world stage, a message he has emphasized repeatedly in recent weeks.
Historically, the president’s party loses an average of 28 House seats in midterm elections, according to the University of California Santa Barbara presidency data. Since 1946, in 18 of 20 midterm elections, the sitting president’s party has lost House seats—a pattern Trump must navigate as Republicans seek to retain control of Congress.
Trump’s campaign strategy also includes messaging about the Democratic Party, warning during the interview that “communism” is present within Democratic ranks. By framing the midterms as a choice between Republican strength and Democratic weakness, Trump aims to mobilize his base despite the historical headwinds that typically work against the party in power.
Sources
- Bloomberg — Trump’s pledge to campaign for midterms with 2024 intensity; acknowledgment that parties in power typically lose ground
- Fox News — Trump’s discussion of high endorsement success rate and midterm campaign strategy on “Sunday Night in America”
- Ballotpedia — Trump’s 96% primary endorsement success rate in 2026
- University of California Santa Barbara Presidency Project — Historical midterm seat losses for the president’s party
