‘He lost his way’: Curley links Republican midterm losses to Trump’s affordability promises, questions the party’s future

Democrats won control of the House and Senate in the Nov. 3 midterm elections, leaving President Donald Trump facing opposition majorities for the final two years of his term. House Speaker Mike Johnson subsequently said he would not seek the Republican minority leader position.

For host John Curley of “The John Curley Show” on KIRO Newsradio, the results reflected frustration with Trump’s promises on affordability and raised questions about the Republican Party’s future.

“When you run on the idea that you’re going to make things more affordable, then you can’t make fun of the word affordable,” Curley said. “A lot of mixed messages coming from the president, especially for the people that put him in there and depended upon him.”

Trump says he will work with Democrats

The show played Trump’s election-night telephone interview with Politico reporter Dasha Burns. Trump disputed the idea that his own appeal had driven the Republican losses.

“I wasn’t on the ballot, and we didn’t get the people out. But I wasn’t on the ballot. If I was on the ballot, we would have won,” Trump said in the recording.

Democratic control does not eliminate Trump’s power to veto legislation. Overriding a presidential veto requires a two-thirds vote in both chambers, beyond the majorities Democrats had secured in the reported results.

Curley questioned whether Democrats would focus on impeachment or pursue a longer political argument tying Republican candidates to Trump.

“The long game is the Coke-Pepsi battle,” Curley said. “You just simply tarnish the party.”

He compared that approach with Pepsi reminding consumers of Coca-Cola’s unsuccessful introduction of New Coke.

“They make Trump the New Coke, and the Democrats are like Pepsi, reminding everybody, ‘Hey, that’s the party that gave you that guy,'” Curley said.

Congressional oversight becomes part of the next phase

House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries outlined an oversight agenda involving Trump, his family, his administration and corporate allies, according to Politico. He also previewed efforts concerning tariffs, Medicaid cuts and Affordable Care Act tax credits.

Curley’s discussion distinguished investigations that could lead to removal efforts from a strategy that keeps Trump associated with the Republican Party through 2028.

“By the time 2028 goes, people are like, ‘Oh yeah, those are the people that gave us Trump,’” Curley said.

Curley addresses disappointed Trump supporters

Trump’s response to the election included a call for Republicans to unite. He also maintained that his decision on Iran was correct, according to the recording played during the segment.

Curley acknowledged why some voters had supported Trump before describing what he saw as a failure to meet their expectations.

“I think he lost his way, or certainly the American people, the majority of them, felt as if he had lost his way and had abandoned you, and was no longer speaking for you,” Curley said. “That must be a horrible feeling because that was your guy, and you thought that guy was going to be there for you.”

He emphasized that his comments were not intended to mock disappointed voters.

“It must be a tough day today to be a Donald Trump fan. Must be very difficult, real hard. I get that,” Curley said. “In no way am I trying to rub salt in the wound. He’s always fighting the system, and it feels like at some point he just became part of the system.”

Watch the full discussion in the video above.

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