Trump defiant about midterm chances as he rallies for Republicans in Ohio

Trump tells a rally in Ohio that he believes there will be a “big surprise” in the upcoming elections.US President Donald Trump has continued rallying for Republican candidates while visiting Ohio, proposing a defiant outlook on his party’s chances in the November 3 midterm elections.Trump told a rally in Vandalia, Ohio, that he believes there will be a “big surprise” in the upcoming elections, claiming his Democratic opponents do not know what is happening.Recommended Stories list of 3 itemslist 1 of 3Pelosi-backed US candidate calls for ‘full arms embargo’ on Israellist 2 of 3‘Bordering on angry’: The state of play as US midterms enter final monthlist 3 of 3Trump ramps up pressure on US Republicans to end US clock switchingend of listPolls have suggested that Democrats could gain ground in the midterms, but the US president said Republicans would do better than critics expect.“Just get out and vote,” Trump said as he rallied for US Senator Jon Husted, gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy and other Republicans.“If you do that, we’re going to win, and we’re going to win big,” he said.Ohio’s Senate raceMultiple incumbent Republican senators across the country face tough political headwinds, with Trump’s popularity falling in recent months as higher petrol prices and those for other staples persist amid the US-Israel war ⁠⁠on Iran.Husted, a Republican in a competitive Ohio race against Democrat Sherrod Brown, hopes the president can motivate supporters who might otherwise skip midterm elections.Trump garnered more than 55 percent of the Ohio vote in the 2024 presidential election, but economic concerns since then have sunk his approval ratings.Ohio petrol prices increased 35 percent over the past year to $4.16 per gallon (3.8 litres) on average, according to the American Automobile Association (AAA), which compiles data ⁠⁠on automobile travel. Trump’s trade policy with Canada has also led to retaliatory Canadian tariffs that affect about $3bn worth of Ohio exports, based ⁠⁠on 2025 figures, Canadian broadcaster CBC reported.