No, the midterms will not turn on the issue of “affordability.” If affordability truly were decisive, Republicans would easily retain the House and the Senate.
Consider the economic backdrop. Gas prices are at a five-year low, with gas stations in several states selling a gallon of regular for under $2. Several times since Trump’s reelection, the stock market indexes have recorded all-time highs. GDP growth hit 4.3% in the third quarter of 2025. Wage growth is exceeding inflation, but as always, some benefit more than others. Inflation itself is under 3% and trending lower. Egg prices have fallen dramatically. Mortgage rates have declined to the lowest level in three years. Trillions of dollars in foreign investment commitments have been announced. The effects of the One Big Beautiful Bill — no tax on tips, no tax on overtime, tax relief for seniors on Social Security and immediate expensing of business equipment purchases — have barely begun to register. All of this suggests, despite the headlines of despair, that the economy is poised to take off.
If voters were focused primarily on affordability, these conditions would be politically devastating for Democrats.
But that’s not what this election is about.
The midterms will turn on one question only: Is Trump hatred — among Democrats, Hollywood, much of the media and academia — so deeply rooted that President Donald Trump gets credit for nothing?
Look at the record. He closed the southern border in a matter of weeks without new congressional legislation. That’s an incredible accomplishment. More on this later.
Trump negotiated the release of Israeli hostages and the return of their remains from Gaza. That’s a big deal. He pressured European allies to shoulder more of the financial burden for Ukraine’s war against Russia. Another big deal. He significantly degraded Iran’s nuclear capacity. He took decisive action against Venezuela’s Maduro regime — something Democrats once loudly demanded. He expanded school-choice options that disproportionately benefit Black and brown students trapped in failing K-12 urban schools.
He forced NATO allies to increase defense spending after years of freeloading. He applied sustained pressure on Iran’s regime at a moment when internal instability has never been higher since the beginning of the “Islamic Republic” in 1979. He pressured universities to better protect Jewish students and to end illegal race-based DEI policies. And all of this in less than a full year.
On immigration enforcement, Trump has deported roughly 1.5 million illegal aliens — many with violent criminal records. Deportations under Trump in both terms remain below the 3.5 million deportations carried out under former President Barack Obama.
There have been cases in which U.S. citizens were mistakenly detained or arrested by ICE, sometimes for minutes, hours or a few days. According to ProPublica, the number is “more than 170.” Out of roughly 1.5 million deportations under Trump, that comes to 0.0113%, or just over one hundredth of 1%. Considering that former President Joe Biden let in an estimated 10 million to 15 million aliens, the mass deportation initiated under Trump is required to undo just some of Biden’s intentional policy.
Mistakes during deportation by ICE are inevitable — but in the context of reversing years of mass illegal entry, they are statistically rare. If sanctuary cities and states truly wanted to reduce such errors, they would allow ICE to operate inside jails and prisons rather than forcing arrests to occur in public spaces.
As to Iran, I’m old enough to remember when the political left claimed to care about the oppression and subjugation of women — and rooted openly for their possible liberation.
All of this brings us back to the real issue.
Trump Derangement Syndrome is real. It is deep. And it has metastasized, not just nationally but globally.
Roughly half the country views Trump with the Jimmy Kimmel mindset. Can anyone seriously imagine Kimmel ever saying, “You know, on this issue, Trump deserves some credit,” or “On that issue, maybe I was wrong”?
Of course not. And that’s the point.
The midterms won’t hinge on prices at the pump or at the grocery store. They will hinge on whether millions of voters can acknowledge reality — or whether their animus toward Trump is so absolute that no achievement, no success and no improvement in people’s lives really matter.
That, not “affordability,” is the question before the country.
Larry Elder is a bestselling author and nationally syndicated radio talk-show host. To find out more about Larry Elder, or become an “Elderado,” visit here. Follow Larry on X @larryelder. To read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate webpage.
COPYRIGHT 2026 CREATORS.COM
The opinions expressed by columnists are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of AMAC or AMAC Action.
As stated previously, everything still depends on how the voters have digested the false rhetoric that the Democrats, Hollywood and MSM have spewed to the voters. They have skewed everything this administration has done for the nation. It comes down to if the voting public will go out and cast their ballots instead of sitting at home during the upcoming midterm. You can bet that the Demos are banking on voters to stay home so they can regain control of the US Congress.
Yes, the rabid hatred for Trump has poisoned many. Anyone who wants evil criminal illegals to stay here to steal, beat, rape and kill our citizens is not sane. Anyone who wants our citizen criminals to wander free is also insane. It is the government’s duty to protect we, the people to keep us safe from harm,,,domestic or foreign. If we don’t keep the evil radical liberals out of DC in November, all may be lost.
It is not just Trump they hate, it is several different things, They are, somewhat, being thwarted from continuing to ROB the hard working tax payers of AMERICA, plus, they are paid to hate AMERICA, under any circumstance’s, unless there is a COMMUNIST DICTATER RUNNING THIS COUNTRY FROM THE OVAL OFFICE. We are under threat from the true Core of COMMUNISM, that these traitors have always talked about. They will not quit until they are TOTALLY DEFEATED AND HAVE NO HOPE. They need to be moved to a COMMUNIST COUNTRY. I would bet the we are going to be SHOCKED WHEN WE find out who these AS-HOLES work for, if we ever do.
I blame the media and Democrats for the hatred and horrible rhetoric!
“Affordability” IS improving, albeit slowly. You’re right about it NOT being about affordability. The Dems have become experts in messaging, even if it’s a dishonest message, and they have their tool, the media, to help. The real problem for Republicans is they are losing the “info war”. They have not defined or aggressively promulgated a cohesive and solid message. Their lack of unity has always hurt them…the RINOs most of all.
GREAT ARTICLE, LARRY!
Maybe Trump should endorse all the democrat candidates to Make America Great Again! Republicans would win by a landslide!
This is SO true; the leven of hatred toward our President is something to see. It’s summed up in a comment I recently read: If Trump jumped into the ocean to save a drowning child, the “opposition” would accuse him of starving innocent sharks!
“Democrats” and their policies are cause of the disaster, they want to complete that. Along came DJT that wants to wright the wreck, “democrats” are in panic, they hate and fear him, will do anything to prevent him from interfering with their grand plans for the country. Problem are all the officials who sold their integrity for the bowl of porridge, who from their positions of the office and the fear of loosing it are trying to stop him at any cost , even if it means breaking the law .Anything to save their own skins, country and the people can go to blazes.
Republicans need to get on the bl and start promoting our conservative values vs the demoncrats socialist propaganda
And the VOTE RED ONLY.
Where is the GOP? Trump cannot carry the entire load alone. Seems too often GOP members in Congress work against the elected agenda. Our Congress is responsible for most of the problems nagging us and tipping the ship to port. Handing a majority to House and Senate is a tough row to hoe with election scams run by the LEFT. Seems each time we brace that hurdle the results are sketchy at best. Trump and DOGE are exactly right; government is too large and full of fraud, waste, and abuse. The results we get from Congress is poor at best. They have learned how to get rich in office and merely scramble to stay there for self benefit.
Larry, you are right about people facing reality. That seems a hard row to hoe (and I’ve hoed a few). Are there enough of us silent conservatives out here to overcome the hate? I don’t want to place bets on it, but I hope so.
EGGS ALSO ARE SUBSTANTUALLY DOWN!!! AS MANY OTHER PRICES. BEEF IS ONLY UP BECAUSE OF THE LOSS OF SO MANY CATTLE IN FIRES IN N.TX AND THE THREAT OF FLIES COMING UP FROM MEXICO…..
I have never been able to understand why the Dumbocrats and their useful idiots are so filled with hatred. I have yet to see any evidence that they are motivated by anything other than pure hatred for anyone who doesn’t agree with all their nonsense. The world and civilization as we know it is in mortal danger from those who wallow in perversion and self indulgence. I fear that Western civilization is headed in the same direction as the Roman Empire – not recognizing threats to their way of life but indulging in every perverted and immoral practice. And we all know what happened after the fall — remember the Dark Ages? It’s disheartening to see these freaks on places like YouTube where they spout nothing but hatred. They can’t defend their position with logic or facts – they just resort to name calling and defaming others. From their deviant lifestyles to their profanity, they behave like the dregs of society that they are. They fail to see the irony in claiming that they are individuals, yet they proudly wear nose rings like cattle that are lead around with a rope through it. Quite honestly, i fear that we are at the end of time and I fully expect to see 4 guys on horses riding down I-95 headed for the swamp
The President inherited the waist deep mess from previous admin. which was manipulated by Obama and his advisers. Now the radicals are in panic, that their plans might go bust. DJT of course is on front page so he is to blame for the shipwreck, not those who kept her on the course toward the ice berg.
I agree 100% Except that Half the country watches and agrees with kimal… That’s what the media wants us to believe!
Even a lot of people who hate Trump may still hate what the Democrats did the last few years much more. The Republicans ought to always refer to the Democrats as “The People Who Brought You Joe Biden, Kamala Harris and Tim Walz”! The memories that will invoke should cause a steady stream of voters showing up for the Republicans!
Trump won the election by a huge margin EVEN WITH ALL THE ILLEGAL VOTES. I believe the Trump supporters will show up like never before in the mid terms and add seats. If not, we are in for it. Done. Toast.
The President inherited the waist deep mess from previous admin. which was manipulated by Obama and his advisers. Now the radicals are in panic, that their plans might go bust. DJT of course is on front page so he is to blame for the shipwreck, not those who kept her on the course toward the berg.
For certain Trump was hated the 1st time around, but now, TODAY, it has taken on a whole new undercurrent. TDS is widespread, rampant and becoming even more of an epidemic.
They didn’t exist when Cain killed Abel. Might try thinking before commenting.
TDS plus obstinacy are a terrible combination and indicative of emotional immaturity! When will the children grow ip and get over it?!
Bingo!
BRAVO.
Its Trump Policies on the ballott for Midterms
You can tell people that they’ve never had it so good and that Happy Days are here again but when they go to the grocery store, they find their real proof.