Washington Examiner executive editor Bob Cusack said Republicans are growing frustrated with President Donald Trump and have kept quiet about it.
“We all know the Republicans have bitten their tongue with Trump, but if this election keeps going like this, and it’s looking like it’s going to be a bloodbath, there’s going to be a civil war in the Republican Party at the election,” Cusack said on CNN’s Laura Coates Live on Wednesday.
Cusack cited one of the concerns Republicans have with the president is his promise to send out $5,000 checks if Republicans maintain control of Congress.
“A lot of Republicans on Capitol Hill, they got no heads-up on the $5,000 idea, they are so upset at what’s coming out of the president’s mouth, especially over the last couple months, and as well as the convention in Dallas,” Cusack said.
Trump made the announcement at the GOP’s midterm convention in Dallas on Sept. 9. He touted “tremendous economic success,” and mentioned the $5,000 checks during his Wednesday speech.
“The reason the Democrats can’t do that is because they don’t do tariffs. They don’t take in money. All they know is poverty and how to ruin our country. But we’re making a fortune,” Trump said. “So, if the Republicans win, you win with us, and you get $5,000. It will be called the Trump dividend. We’ll call it the Trump dividend. Congratulations. Now all we have to do is win.”
Trump also said the money has to be spent within the United States.
Cusack said another concern for Republicans is the Iran war, which began on Feb. 28. The cost estimate for the war since then is roughly $38 billion.
Cusack said Republicans’ previous messaging on affordability was centered on the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, but now those accomplishments are being clouded by the war.
The landmark legislation made several tax provisions permanent and added new ones. It cut down spending on Medicaid and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, also known as food stamps, and imposed no taxes on tips or overtime.
“Any economic benefits from that [the One Big Beautiful Bill Act] have been totally degraded by the Iran war, and that was supposed to last six weeks,” Cusack said.
The war in Iran has lasted more than six months, raising concerns over the U.S.’s continued involvement overseas and the resources it has committed to the conflict.
Supply constraints from the conflict are also driving gas prices to record highs in the U.S., as the national average price of diesel hit $6 per gallon for the first time ever last week.
Cusack said this election cycle will focus on the Senate because of the unpopularity of the war in Iran.
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“We’re going to be voting, and it’s [Iran war] still going to be going on,” Cusack said.
The midterm elections will be held on Nov. 3.