Trump Gathers Cabinet to Seal Iran War Deal as GOP Fears Midterm Fallout

President Donald Trump is convening his Cabinet as he seeks to finalize a deal to end the war with Iran, a conflict that has driven up gas prices and strained the U.S. economy.

While Trump remains dominant in Republican primaries—most recently endorsing Ken Paxton in his runoff victory over Senator John Cornyn in Texas—his tightening grip on the party is raising concerns among strategists that it could hurt Republicans in the November midterms. The broader electorate has soured on Trump’s second term and the economy, which has been battered by his trade policies and the ongoing war.

Republican strategist David Urban, a Trump ally, warned that the president's approach is making things harder for the party. "It's going to be a tough fall unless things dramatically change," Urban said, cautioning against a hasty exit from Iran that might embolden the regime.

Trump has dismissed economic worries, calling affordability concerns a "hoax" and describing rising gas prices—up more than 50% since the U.S. and Israel launched attacks on Iran—as "peanuts." He insists that preventing Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons is his only priority, and he does not consider Americans' personal finances when making decisions about the conflict.

Meanwhile, Trump is pressuring Congress to spend $1 billion on his White House ballroom project and $1.8 billion on restitution for those who believe they were politically prosecuted, including some involved in the January 6 Capitol attack. Republican strategist Rick Tyler criticized the administration for failing to address voters' concerns.

"You keep the House and Senate by having a message, by dealing with the issues voters are clearly complaining about," Tyler said. "The administration has utterly failed to do this." The Republican National Committee has not distributed economic talking points for over two weeks, instead focusing on defending Trump's $1.8 billion "anti-weaponization fund." Democrats see an opportunity, targeting Republican-held House districts that Trump won by double digits.

In Iowa, they emphasize how tariffs have hurt the farm economy and how the Iran war has increased diesel and fertilizer prices. In Texas's Rio Grande Valley, they highlight how Trump's immigration crackdown has disrupted the local economy.

Republican strategists are also frustrated by the lack of transparency from Trump's team on how it plans to deploy its massive campaign accounts. The pro-Trump super PAC MAGA Inc.

held over $356 million at the end of April, but operatives say they have received no clear indication of spending plans. Despite these challenges, Trump remains a fundraising powerhouse, helping House Republicans raise $36.8 million at a single dinner last month.

Mike Marinella, spokesperson for the National Republican Congressional Committee, said Trump "puts House Republicans in the strongest possible position to defy history and win in November." However, the president's aggressive endorsement of loyalists like Paxton, who has faced years of scandals, could prove risky in general elections. Chip Lake, a Republican campaign veteran, noted that winning a primary without Trump's support is nearly impossible, but independents and moderates "make up a very tiny, even minuscule portion of Republican primaries."