Gasoline prices are skyrocketing amid an unpopular conflict with Iran, the president is feuding with the Pope while posting blasphemous AI images, and all of this is enough to make MS Now’s Jen Psaki wonder if Donald Trump is really trying to ruin his own party in the midterm elections.
During Tuesday’s episode of “The Briefing with Jen Psaki,” the host reviewed the president’s latest series of unpopular policies and controversial social media posts, during which he weighed in with questions about the upcoming midterm elections.
“Voters are clearly fed up with Trump’s policy decisions,” Psaki said. “It’s almost, and I’ve thought about it, that Trump is actively trying to lose the midterm elections. Like, is he throwing the game here and trying to make life hell for Republicans like Mike Lawler?”
Psaki’s reference to Lawler comes after the New York representative won headlines for a town hall that erupted in boos and jeers over gas prices and the Iran war. While receiving criticism from his constituents, Lawler told the crowd to “really act like adults,” “calm down” and “relax.”
To that, Psaki responded: “What a message. The president has just started a war that he doesn’t know how to end. You’re paying more at the pump, all of our service men and women are at risk. Just relax.”
Psaki also got a laugh courtesy of Maria Bartiromo’s shocked face during one of Trump’s recent appearances on Fox News. When Bartiromo asked the president if he thought gas prices would go down before the midterms, he casually responded that he hopes so, but “it could be the same, or maybe a little higher,” earning him a stunned look from the Fox host.
The segment also addressed Trump’s recent Truth Social post, which depicted him as a Christian figure, wearing biblical attire and healing the sick. The president has since deleted the post, saying he believes it depicted him as a doctor. But what caught Psaki’s attention was that it even prompted a public comment from House Speaker Mike Johnson.
“It’s notable that Mike Johnson realized he couldn’t brush this aside by claiming ignorance of Trump’s social media activities,” Psaki said, “which is what he usually does, because even he understands that this is exactly the kind of thing that will turn off the kinds of voters Republicans can’t afford to lose this November.”
After reviewing footage of Trump supporters reacting negatively to that Truth Social post, Psaki returned to her questions about the upcoming midterm elections.
“It makes you wonder if Trump is actively trying to sabotage the political party he is supposed to lead,” he continued. “They are losing the support of the voters they need most in the places that need it most.”
Finally, Psaki turned her attention to Vice President JD Vance, who made an appearance at a Turning Point USA event in Georgia on Tuesday night and told the crowd, “Don’t tune out because you disagree with the administration on an issue. Get more involved. Make your voice heard even more. That’s how we’ll ultimately take the country back.”
“Sorry, this is how you get the country back? We get it back from who?” Psaki said with a scoff. “You are the vice president of the White House. Republicans control the House, the Senate and the Supreme Court. You are in charge.”
“I don’t think it’s just an issue where voters disagree with you right now,” he added. “I mean, Trump is alienating everyone from war skeptics to religious Catholics to evangelical voters, and if JD Vance doesn’t feel comfortable enough to defend this administration’s policies at a conservative conference in Georgia, then Republicans may have a very difficult November.”
