Former Gov. Chris Christie (R-N.J.) warned that President Donald Trump’s declining approval ratings could push Republican candidates in competitive races to distance themselves from him ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.
Christie Warns GOP May Avoid Trump
On Monday, Christie made the remarks during an interview with ABC News, arguing that Trump’s standing among independent voters could become a major challenge for Republicans seeking reelection.
In a post on X, he said, “With his current approval rating, Republicans are going to treat Trump like he has malaria by the time we get to October.”
During the interview, Christie said many Republicans may feel pressured to appear alongside Trump because he closely tracks political loyalty.
“They don’t want that help,” he said, arguing that some Republicans may begin avoiding Trump’s campaign appearances.
He added, “They’re going to be treating him like he’s, you know, got malaria by the time he gets [to the] October convention in September.”
Christie pointed to Trump’s negative standing among independent voters as a key concern for Republicans in swing districts.
“The key number in the polls you talked about, yes, the 30s are bad, but here’s the one that I look at for a midterm president right now is minus 45 among independents,” he said.
He argued that candidates in competitive races may try to separate themselves from Trump to protect their own campaigns.
Democrats Gain Edge on Economy
A Reuters/Ipsos poll showed Democrats had overtaken Republicans on economic trust for the first time in nearly a decade.
The survey found 37% of registered voters favored Democrats’ economic approach compared with 36% for Republicans, while Democrats also led in a hypothetical congressional vote.
Trump’s approval rating had fallen to 35%, down from 37% in the previous poll.
Trump Faces Election Criticism
Last month, a federal appeals court kept a block on parts of Trump’s executive order targeting mail-in voting oversight, ruling that provisions on voter citizenship lists and ballot monitoring could not be enforced.
The Justice Department said it could seek Supreme Court review.
Former White House communications director Anthony Scaramucci argued Trump’s focus was more on preserving his personal legacy and control than the GOP’s future.
Sen. Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.) accused Trump of laying the groundwork to challenge the 2026 election results if he lost.
Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
Photo Courtesy: Christopher Halloran on Shutterstock.com
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