Republican National Committee Chair Joe Gruters pushed back on concerns about President Trump's declining approval ratings, insisting that the president's endorsements in primary races demonstrate his continued dominance within the party. Speaking to Fox News, Gruters acknowledged the polling numbers but argued that the GOP base remains firmly behind Trump.
“He is well-supported by the party base, and the base loves the president,” Gruters said. “The president's the leader of our party, and when he makes a decision, when he comes out and endorses candidates, those candidates usually win.”
Trump's approval rating has taken a hit amid the ongoing conflict with Iran and soaring energy costs. The national average for a gallon of gas hit $4.46 on Wednesday, according to AAA, squeezing household budgets and fueling voter discontent. RealClearPolitics pegged Trump's disapproval at 58.3 percent on Monday, and an American Research Group poll found 64 percent of respondents disapproved of his job performance.
The president has largely shrugged off concerns about the economic toll of the war, instead focusing on his primary victories. On Tuesday, Trump-backed Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton ousted incumbent Senator John Cornyn in a runoff election. Trump endorsed Paxton just a week before the vote, and in a Truth Social post Wednesday, he called Cornyn a friend even as he celebrated the win. The race deepened the rift in the Texas GOP between establishment figures and Trump loyalists.
Trump also celebrated the primary defeats of two Republicans who have crossed him: Senator Bill Cassidy of Louisiana and Representative Thomas Massie of Kentucky. Cassidy, who voted to convict Trump on impeachment charges related to the January 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol and later blocked the nomination of Casey Means for surgeon general, lost his primary earlier this month. Trump gloated on Truth Social, writing that it was “nice to see that his political career is OVER!” and accusing Cassidy of “disloyalty.”
Massie, who broke with the administration on several issues including the Iran war, fell to Trump-backed candidate Ed Gallrein, a retired Navy SEAL, in Kentucky's May 19 primary. Trump had called Massie a “bad guy” who “deserves to lose.” The president's willingness to take out fellow Republicans who defy him underscores his iron grip on the party, even as his broader standing with the public erodes.
Gruters' comments come as the White House struggles to sell its narrative on the Iran conflict. The administration's handling of the war has exacted a political toll, with rising gas prices and mounting casualties fueling criticism. Meanwhile, Trump's focus on primary battles has drawn accusations that he is prioritizing intraparty score-settling over governance.
Despite the approval slump, the RNC chair's message was clear: the president's influence within the GOP is undiminished. Whether that translates into general election success remains an open question, as swing voters and independents increasingly balk at the administration's direction.
