Power Struggle Erupts in Trump’s White House as Midterm Losses Loom

Internal competition has broken out inside President Donald Trump’s White House as Republican strategists brace for potential losses in the November midterm elections, Vanshika Vasundhare Singh reports for Reality Tea and Yahoo News, citing an investigation by The Washington Post based on interviews with 20 White House staffers, advisers and people close to the president.

At the center of the maneuvering is uncertainty over whether White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles will remain in her post after the midterms. While Wiles has not indicated to allies that she plans to leave, speculation about a post-election departure has prompted senior officials — including Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller, federal housing official Bill Pulte, and Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin — to position themselves as potential successors, according to the report.

One Trump ally told The Washington Post that the West Wing has become “the new Wild Wild West,” as aides compete for visibility and direct access to the president ahead of a potential post-election shakeup.

Tensions rose after Trump approached Katie Zacharia about becoming White House press secretary without consulting Wiles first, according to four people familiar with the decision. Some officials viewed the move as a sign that Wiles’ influence had weakened, as Trump complained to allies that aides were not defending him forcefully enough in public.

Among those vying for Trump’s attention, Pulte repeatedly brought large poster boards outlining policy proposals onto golf courses and aboard Air Force One to pitch the president directly. While the effort drew Trump’s notice, officials told The Washington Post that Trump privately complained the poster boards were cluttering the White House residence.

Wiles has also faced scrutiny over foreign political consulting work in Republika Srpska involving Trump allies James Blair and Chris LaCivita. Trump publicly distanced himself from both operatives and threatened to fire anyone involved over potential conflicts of interest; scrutiny deepened after a photo surfaced showing Wiles’ daughter visiting the territory while her lobbying firm represented its government.

The West Wing jockeying is unfolding amid mounting Republican concern over the November 2026 midterm elections. According to the report, GOP strategists fear losing control of the House of Representatives, while the Senate outlook remains uncertain.

Internal polling reportedly showed declining support for Republicans following the party’s midterm convention in Dallas. Even traditional Republican strongholds including Kansas and Texas have become competitive amid low presidential approval ratings and voter frustration over high prices, heightening pressure inside the administration over who will bear responsibility if the party suffers losses.