Trump begins an election campaign to support Republicans as the midterms approach

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US President Donald Trump began an intense 32-day election campaign by visiting the states of Texas and Oklahoma to support Republican candidates at a time when his party faces a battle to maintain a slim majority in Congress during the midterm elections scheduled for November.

Some Republican Party candidates have doubts about the usefulness of Trump's appearance and whether it helps or harms their position, but he seeks to lead the party's efforts in the midterm elections and intends to participate in election campaigns for a number of close races for seats in the House of Representatives and the Senate.

“Pretend that I am the nominee, please,” Trump said during a campaign rally in Durant, Oklahoma, on Thursday.

Trump's rallies were held in areas considered safe strongholds for Republicans, as he began his tour in the city of Denton, Texas, before heading to Oklahoma, in an attempt to gather momentum before visiting areas witnessing a more competitive race. But his visits to predominantly conservative areas raised concerns among some party officials about the number of seats Republicans might lose.

Upon his arrival in Texas, Trump said that this week's election campaign tours, which also include a visit to Alabama on Friday, come as an expression of "respect" for the states that supported him in his three attempts to reach the White House.

During a 55-minute speech at a factory in Denton, Trump said he was devoting his efforts to supporting Republicans in the midterm elections. "My heart is with this fight more than ever," he added.

Later, Trump expressed to Durant his concern about the performance of Republican candidates in some key states. "We're concerned about Michigan, we're concerned about Texas, we're concerned about a number of other states," he told the crowd, urging his supporters to encourage their friends in other states to vote.

Trump told his supporters during an event at the White House on Wednesday that he has not yet succeeded in promoting his economic record since his return to the White House in January 2025.

Voters' dissatisfaction with his management of the economy contributed to changing the electoral competition map, as political analysts now consider some previously safe Republican seats to be competitive seats in the November elections.

“We have the best numbers of any president in the history of our country, and yet I cannot get that message to the people,” Trump said in Texas.