Trump returns to White House amid weak polls ahead of midterms – live

Trump Returns to Washington as Midterms Approach and Polls Show Voter Priorities

President Donald Trump returned to the White House on Thursday morning after campaigning in Arizona and Montana. Recent surveys have indicated challenges for Republican candidates in the November midterm elections.

An exclusive poll conducted for the Guardian by Harris showed that three in four Americans expressed concern about a possible recession. The survey found growing dissatisfaction among independents, rural voters, and some Republicans regarding economic conditions. An Associated Press poll reported that roughly eight in ten voters identified the economy or cost of living as among their top issues, while about two-thirds cited healthcare and the ongoing conflict with Iran. Immigration and crime ranked lower in priority for most respondents.

The AP-NORC poll, conducted less than four weeks before Election Day, found that a majority of registered voters believed the president was falling short on domestic and foreign matters and favored significant change in Congress. Democratic voters showed higher enthusiasm for voting than Republican voters. The same survey indicated that more respondents preferred Democratic control of Congress and held a more negative view of Republicans.

The conflict with Iran, which began during the prior administration, has continued into the current term and remains a factor in voter assessments according to the polls. President Trump stated on Wednesday evening that the conflict “will end very soon” and that Iran would not obtain a nuclear weapon. He also said oil prices would decline sharply.

Voter Sentiment and Candidate Events

The AP-NORC findings described a difficult environment for Republicans holding congressional majorities amid the Iran conflict and price increases. Economic concerns topped the list of voter issues across both polls.

In Texas, Democratic Senate nominee James Talarico participated in a CNN town hall with undecided voters. Participants questioned him on abortion, foreign aid, and Israel’s military operations in Gaza. One voter, identifying as a single-issue Catholic voter, asked how Talarico would assure protection of the unborn. Talarico responded that the Bible does not directly address abortion and framed the issue as a public health matter best addressed through reduced unplanned pregnancies. He described himself as a moderate focused on Texas residents rather than party lines and criticized the influence of wealthy individuals.

At a separate Texas rally, Vice President JD Vance responded to an audience member by saying he returned the sentiment “in a totally platonic way, to be clear. I’m the vice president, not James Talarico.” Reports indicated this formed part of Republican messaging questioning Talarico’s alignment with Texas voters. Recent surveys have shown Talarico leading his Republican opponent, Attorney General Ken Paxton. Paxton did not attend the town hall and has concentrated on television advertising. More than $500 million has been spent on ads in the Texas Senate race, according to CNN.

Developments in Ukraine

Efforts by the White House to arrange an energy-related pause in fighting between Russia and Ukraine did not produce an agreement. Moscow launched a large drone attack on infrastructure in central Ukraine, while Ukrainian forces resumed strikes on Russian oil facilities. Russian officials stated that Ukraine struck a refinery in the Ryazan region for the first time since the proposed pause. President Trump had called on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to halt such strikes, linking them to higher global diesel prices.

Zelenskyy told the Financial Times that Ukraine would resume the refinery attacks after previously suspending them to demonstrate readiness for talks. He described gaps in U.S. intelligence sharing as problematic. Russian reports indicated that 69 drones and four cruise missiles targeted the Ryazan facility, with debris from an intercepted drone causing a fire. In Ukraine’s Kirovohrad region, more than 360 Russian drones struck targets, resulting in three deaths and six injuries.

Additional Developments

President Trump has directed attention toward Ukraine in recent statements while continuing to address the Iran conflict. The Guardian/Harris poll also recorded recession concerns among key voting groups.

During the town hall, Talarico reiterated his intent to prioritize constituent needs over partisan positions. Ukrainian officials have stated that access to Elon Musk’s Starlink system was restricted, with Zelenskyy describing the situation as a betrayal. The president has denied any reduction in intelligence sharing, while Musk indicated on X that U.S. government actions contributed to the limits.

White House press secretary Katie Zacharia has faced questions regarding her legal qualifications. She has addressed some of the inquiries, though whether she has passed a state bar examination remains unresolved.

The midterm elections are scheduled for early November, with control of Congress at stake.