As Republicans break with Trump, we face a setback: from the political office

Welcome to From the political officea daily newsletter bringing you the latest reporting and analysis from the NBC News Politics team from the White House, Capitol Hill and the campaign trail.

In today’s edition, national political reporter Sahil Kapur examines Trump’s reaction to Republicans putting some distance between themselves and the White House ahead of the midterm elections. Additionally, journalist Alexander Smith looks at a major issue in European politics that has some echoes in recent American politics: the ties between domestic right-wing parties and Russia.

-Scott Bland

As Republicans break with Trump, one receives a setback

Analysis by Sahil Kapur

With the president Donald TrumpFaced with his declining approval ratings and voters shifting toward Democrats ahead of the 2026 midterm elections, many Republican candidates have sought to distance themselves from him — removing him from their websites, using their voice or votes to disapprove of the war in Iran, and more.

For the most part, Trump let the matter slide, in some cases downplaying political signals from his wary allies to his skeptics in the electorate.

But not in Rep.’s case. Maria Elvira Salazarthe three-term Florida Republican who represents a Miami-area district. Last week, she aired a direct-to-camera ad, filmed in front of the White House, condemning Trump’s immigration agenda.

“Mr. President, some of your efforts on immigration have gone too far,” she says in the ad, pointing at the camera and adding that “the same Hispanics who helped get you to the White House in 2024 feel betrayed today.”

Salazar has reason to be concerned, even though she won her last two elections by double digits and Trump won her district handily in 2024. The district is 74% Hispanic.

Between 2020 and 2024, Trump made double-digit gains with Hispanic voters nationwide, according to exit polls. But since then, its ratings have fallen precipitously. In the latest NBC News poll, Latino voters disapproved of Trump by a 2-to-1 margin.

Other Republicans also have reason to worry. Trump’s national approval rating is 39% in the NBC News polling average (or about 20 points underwater), down from 50% (or about 5 points above water) at the start of his second term. Against this backdrop, Republican candidates have distanced themselves on Iran, gas prices and other issues in recent weeks.

But it was Salazar who was hit hardest by Trump’s wrath.

Over the weekend, the president took to Truth Social to repost more than a dozen social media posts criticizing Salazar. “She is openly pro-amnesty,” said one speaker relayed by Trump. “She tried a stunt and it backfired!” »wrote another. “She is nothing but a traitor,” wrote another. “Trump needs to withdraw his support,” said a fourth. A fifth speaker, supported by Trump, called for his replacement by a “new” Republican.

This serves as a warning shot to other Republicans not to cross the line or he will anger them at his base of supporters, who the GOP needs to vote in November.

The limit is less clear. Salazar’s direct and public confrontation on television – which has long been Trump’s preferred medium – worked against that goal.

But the candidate for governor of Florida Byron Donaldswhich removed mentions of Trump from its website, did not violate its red line; Trump downplayed his distance on social media.

Neither does the representative. Marianne Miller-MeeksR-Iowa, who voted two weeks ago for a Democratic-led resolution to end the war in Iran, or Rep. Ashley HinsonR-Iowa, who said last week the war should end.

On Monday, Trump welcomed Iowa lawmakers, including Miller-Meeks and Hinson, to the Oval Office to announce the construction of a new steel mill in Iowa. “We’re going to have a big rally. We’re all going to be there together. We need to get you all elected,” Trump said. “We’ll save you a good Iowa pork chop, sir,” Hinson interjected.

Does the European far right have a problem with the Kremlin?

By Alexander Smith

Europe’s far-right parties are on the rise, seemingly well-positioned to ride a wave of anti-establishment sentiment and rise to power in several countries in the coming years.

But as concern grows over threats of sabotage and cyberattacks from Russia, the resurgent right faces scrutiny over its past ties to the Kremlin — and questions about how it might approach Moscow in the future.

A major turning point came this month from a leading figure on the French far right Marine Le Penthe front-runner in next year’s presidential election.

In a joint statement with Jordan BardellaAnother key figure in her National Rally party, Le Pen said she would “never tolerate” Russia using “intimidation, threats, destabilization or psychological pressure” to influence French politics.

They also condemned Moscow’s seizure of assets of French and European companies as “a hostile act against the interests of France and European nations” that “must be strongly condemned.”

This is a notable rhetorical development on the part of Le Pen, who only a few years ago declared his admiration for the Russian president. Vladimir Putindownplaying threats from Moscow and facing scrutiny over a 9.4 million euro ($10.7 million) loan to his party from a Russian bank.

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That’s all that’s coming from the politburo for now. Today’s newsletter was written by Scott Bland.

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