MANCHESTER, N.H.- Former White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt says President Donald Trump is determined to defy a challenging midterm political landscape as Republicans fight to defend their narrow majorities in the House and Senate."The president is defiant, and he always is optimistic," Leavitt said this week in a Fox News Digital interview in her home state of New Hampshire.The GOP is fighting political history, as the party in power in Washington has traditionally lost seats during midterm election years.
Republicans also face a challenging campaign climate fueled by persistent inflation Americans see at the grocery store, high gas prices tied to what polls show is an unpopular war with Iran and Trump's increasingly negative approval ratings.KAROLINE LEAVITT SAYS TRUMP NEEDS A 'FIGHTER' AS SHE WEIGHS IN ON HER SUCCESSOR'S QUICK DEPARTUREPresident Donald Trump arrives for a campaign rally at Laughlin/Bullhead International Airport on October 14, 2026 in Bullhead City, Arizona.(Alex Wong/Getty Images)Leavitt said Trump "totally understands that history is not on the Republican side right now if you just frankly look at the history books, but that's not stopping him from going out and barnstorming the country.
He's been everywhere this week from North Carolina to South Carolina.Be in Michigan again this weekend."Republicans are also facing a low propensity problem in the midterms - MAGA supporters who don't always vote when Trump isn't on the ballot."The president is getting out there and reminding voters what's at stake in this election and why it's so important to get out and vote in the midterms," Leavitt noted.
"He's being frank and honest with his voters that 'I know you don't turn out in midterm cycles, but we need you to this time."SIGN UP TO GET THE POLITICS NEWSLETTERPresident Donald Trump speaks during a campaign rally at Heartland Credit Union Arena in Park City, Kan., on Oct.19, 2026.
Trump is traveling to multiple cities campaigning for Rep...