Trump’s latest moves rattled GOP insiders as the former president champions a $1.8 B fund for alleged Jan. 6 “weaponization” victims while sidelining key congressional races. Senators say his focus on the new White House ballroom and foreign policy skews the party’s mid‑term strategy, risking Republican control of Congress.

In May, Trump endorsed a MAGA challenger over Texas's senior senator, defying warnings that the move could jeopardize the seat. He dismissed rising gas prices as “peanuts” while negotiating an Iran ceasefire, prioritizing international diplomacy over domestic affordability. Republicans, many of whom survived the Capitol attack, have left Washington without funding his projects.

Senator Thom Tillis blasted the fund as “stupid on stilts,” earning a Twitter rebuke from Trump, who called him a “weak and ineffective nitpicker.” Meanwhile, Senator Brian Fitzpatrick vowed to join others in blocking the $1.8 B initiative, citing loyalty to voters over presidential loyalty. Trump’s super‑PAC, backed by a $350 M war chest, remains a potent but underused tool.

With approval ratings at an all‑time low, GOP leaders fear Trump’s self‑indulgence could erode voter turnout in critical swing districts. The party’s fundraising machine, while robust, faces pressure as members weigh distancing from the president against the risk of losing the White House’s political capital. Congress now confronts a dilemma: support Trump’s agenda or safeguard electoral prospects.