The intense preoccupation of the US president with the surprise arrest of its leader, Nicolás Maduro, is causing irritation to his associates in the White House and to Republican congressmen, who, according to a report, believe that, in an election year, he should also prioritize health care.
Citing three sources familiar with the internal discussions, the author of the article notes that concern is intensifying as voters appear increasingly unhappy with price increases and the way Trump is handling the economy.
Fears of losses in Congress
Allies of the president fear that his sharp turn on foreign policy could cost the Republican Party control of Congress in next November’s midterm elections. Traditionally, the incumbent’s party has struggled to hold onto seats in the midterms, while Republicans currently hold marginal majorities in both Houses.
Voter dissatisfaction with the economy could make this year’s contest particularly difficult.
The White House’s response
When asked about this, the White House maintained that Trump has always made the economy his top priority, citing his recent announcements about lowering housing prices. At the same time, he emphasized that his foreign policy “firmly serves the doctrine of America First”.
“The president will always work to bring investment and tangible results back to the country,” spokeswoman Anna Kelly said.
From Greenland to Syria
Reservations about Trump’s priorities are not new. In recent weeks, the US president has hinted at possible invasion of Greenland and Panama, ordered bombing of targets in Syria and Nigeria, and been actively involved in peace efforts between Ukraine and Russia.
But officials note that the concerns now take on urgency as the administration enters a critical election season in which it planned to emphasize domestic policy and travel within the US.
“The economy is strong,” Trump insists
In a series of White House meetings since November, aides have presented the president with polls and social media data documenting public concern about the cost of living, urging him to focus more on economic issues.
Trump, according to the official, responded that the economy is strong and that obsessing over the issue is trapping Republicans in the Democratic narrative. He also claimed that the high inflation is due to the policies of his predecessor, Joe Biden, even describing the accuracy as a “democratic fraud”.
The MAGA Foundation and “America First”
Trump was re-elected on the slogan “America First”, promising to avoid foreign involvement and strengthen the economy. Although so far his base appears to support intervention in Venezuela, foreign policy rarely decides congressional elections.
A Reuters/Ipsos poll in December showed just one in three Americans approve of Trump’s handling of the economy — the lowest figure of the year. , although initial support among Republicans was as high as 65%.
Behind the scenes doubts
Republicans on Capitol Hill, according to sources, are wondering privately why the president does not give more weight to domestic priorities, even though they publicly support his moves abroad.
“He needs to stay focused on what voters really care about — not renaming buildings and other things that don’t touch the kitchen table,” commented one Republican strategist.
Polls and influencers
To gauge reactions from the MAGA base, the White House has commissioned special polls on voter attitudes toward Venezuela and Greenland. At the same time, he has also turned to right-wing influencers, attempting to shape the narrative around these movements.
Officials believe that projection of power abroad can enhance – not undermine – “America First”. Whether this strategy will pay off politically remains to be seen at the polls.
