TV pundits, election analysts declare Trump 'the biggest loser' of the 2022 midterms


Republicans were expecting a "red wave" on Election Day, with the typical gains for the out-of-power party turbo-charged by high inflation and economic malaise. That wave did not materialize, and "many pundits and journalists across the spectrum pointed their fingers at former President [Donald] Trump," Fox News reports. "As several Trump-backed candidates in major races lost or lagged behind other Republicans in their states, a consensus appeared to emerge that Trump had a bad night."
It was unclear Wednesday morning whether Republicans had captured the House or Senate, but "what I can tell you is the biggest loser tonight is Donald Trump," ABC's Jonathan Karl said.
"I think you have to say Donald Trump has now presided over two disastrous midterm elections," Democratic strategist David Plouffe said on MSNBC. "This should've been a much stronger night for Republicans," and a top reason it wasn't "is Donald Trump. He's deeply unpopular, he supported a bunch of horrible Senate candidates who may end up coughing up the football here."
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Trump's pick for Ohio Senate, J.D. Vance, did win. But Republican candidates Trump had endorsed or even recruited lost in several key states — Mehmet Oz and Doug Mastriano in Pennsylvania, Don Bolduc in New Hampshire, Lee Zeldin in New York, Tudor Dixon in Michigan, Tim Michaels in Wisconsin — while several others were trailing in preliminary vote counts, including Kari Lake and Blake Masters in Arizona and Herschel Walker in Georgia.
"There's a potential narrative out of this night that if you're a discerning Republican voter trying to figure out the future direction of this party, we once again learn that Trump is not a national winner for the Republicans," conservative commentator Scott Jennings said on CNN.
Trump had been expecting to celebrate big Republican gains, and his role in securing them, at an election night party at Mar-a-Lago, but as results came in, "he was not particularly interested in addressing the crowd," Michael Bender and Maggie Haberman report at The New York Times. Trump was looking for momentum before announcing his presidential bid, but now Republicans may remember "he was the first president in decades to lose the House, the Senate, and the White House within four years."
Trump doesn't seem likely to accept any responsibility. Before the polls closed, he told NewsNation he thinks if the 330 candidates he endorsed win, "I should get all the credit. And if they lose, I should not be blamed at all."
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.
-
Why is Trump suddenly interested in his enemies' mortgages?
TODAY'S BIG QUESTION As the president continues targeting adversaries, he's turned to a surprising ally to provide ammunition for an emerging line of attack
-
'A symbol of the faceless corporate desire'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
-
Truck drivers are questioning the Trump administration's English mandate
Talking Points Some have praised the rules, others are concerned they could lead to profiling
-
DC prosecutors lose bid to indict sandwich thrower
Speed Read Prosecutors sought to charge Sean Dunn with assaulting a federal officer
-
White House fires new CDC head amid agency exodus
Speed Read CDC Director Susan Monarez was ousted after butting heads with HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. over vaccines
-
Trump soaks up adoration in his made-for-TV Cabinet meetings
IN THE SPOTLIGHT The president's televised sessions have become a platform for his top lieutenants to demonstrate executive flattery
-
DOGE put Social Security data at risk, official says
Speed Read DOGE workers made the personal information of hundreds of millions of Americans vulnerable to identity theft
-
Court rejects Trump suit against Maryland US judges
Speed Read Judge Thomas Cullen, a Trump appointee, said the executive branch had no authority to sue the judges