President Donald Trump used blunt language at an Ohio rally Saturday to fire up Republican voters ahead of the midterm elections, promising a major victory if his supporters show up at the polls. The rally, held just north of Dayton, was the latest stop in a month-long campaign blitz Trump has committed to on behalf of GOP candidates running for election and reelection.
Directing his remarks toward the press section and the back of the venue, Trump told the crowd what a strong Republican turnout would mean. “If you do that,” he said, “we’re gonna win big and we’re going to shove it up their ass.” The comment drew an enthusiastic response from the audience.
Trump Pushes Back on Polls Showing Republican Weakness
The defiant tone appeared aimed squarely at media coverage and polling data suggesting the GOP faces serious headwinds this cycle. “They’re in for a big surprise,” Trump said, adding, “You gotta get out and vote. You got to get out. You got to vote for these guys.” His remarks came as Trump midterm rally coverage noted that his approval rating stood at just 38.5 percent on Sunday morning, according to Decision Desk HQ, with his disapproval rating at 59.1 percent.
The Hill, covering the rally, outlined the broader political landscape facing Republicans. The unpopular war in Iran has now stretched past the seven-month mark, Democrats have been outperforming the GOP in recent polling, and voters have raised concerns about the state of the economy. Fresh surveys also show Democrats are competitive in Senate battlegrounds and in states that lean right, fueling optimism within the Democratic Party about flipping control of both chambers of Congress.
Quinnipiac Poll Finds Voters Favor Democratic House Majority
A Quinnipiac University poll cited by The Hill found that 51 percent of registered voters surveyed want Democrats to take the House majority, compared with only 39 percent who want Republicans to hold it. The same poll found that nearly two thirds of respondents were critical of Trump’s handling of both the economy and foreign policy.
Despite those numbers, Trump is pressing forward with the rally schedule, framing it as a direct counter to what he called a misleading media narrative. The president has promised continued appearances across the country through Election Day to boost GOP candidates in competitive races up and down the ballot.
