Nicolai Haugsted
The president is reportedly searching for someone to shoulder the blame as Republicans grow increasingly nervous about November’s election results.
Donald Trump has been traveling across the United States in an effort to rally Republican voters ahead of November’s congressional elections.
With control of Congress at stake, the president has urged his supporters to treat the midterms almost as though his own name were appearing on the ballot.
But behind the campaign speeches, questions are growing about what happens if Republicans fail to deliver the results the White House wants.
According to political news outlet Puck, Trump is already considering who might shoulder responsibility for a disappointing election night.
The person reportedly attracting his attention is James Blair, a longtime political ally who helped organize the Republican Party’s controversial efforts to redraw congressional districts ahead of the vote.
A potential scapegoat emerges
Republican strategists are increasingly concerned about the party’s prospects as Democrats register leads in several recent polls, according to Puck.
The anxiety has reportedly prompted discussions about who could be held responsible if the results fall short of expectations.
Blair, 37, previously served as Trump’s deputy chief of staff and played a leading role in the administration’s midterm redistricting strategy.
Now, however, his close association with that effort could leave him politically exposed.
“Trump is just setting James up to take the fall,” a Republican operative close to the White House told Puck.
The claim suggests Blair could become a convenient target for criticism if Republicans lose important congressional races.
There has been no public confirmation that Trump intends to blame or dismiss him over the election results.
A controversial assignment attracts Trump’s attention
Blair has already encountered difficulties with the president over an unrelated political consulting arrangement.
Earlier this month, The New York Times reported that Blair and senior Trump adviser Chris LaCivita had each received hundreds of thousands of dollars for consulting work involving elections in Republika Srpska, a political entity within Bosnia and Herzegovina whose leadership has maintained close ties to Russia.
The revelations prompted Trump to publicly distance himself from the two advisers.
On October 7, the president described them as “outside consultants” who “do not work for me.”
“They are allowed to do work for others, just like all consultants in Washington, D.C.,” Trump stated in a message shared on Truth Social.
He also suggested that any potential conflict of interest could have consequences.
“I do not have any idea who else they work for but will, on reflection, ask them and, if there’s a conflict, I will terminate them, immediately!”
According to the report, Trump’s assistant Natalie Harp transcribed and published the president’s remarks.
The statement placed additional attention on Blair’s relationship with the White House just weeks before the elections.
The strategist behind Trump’s redistricting push
Blair’s influence within Trump’s political operation extends well beyond his former White House position.
In April 2025, he reportedly presented the president with a proposal to redraw congressional boundaries before the usual redistricting cycle.
The strategy subsequently gained momentum, with Blair meeting Republican lawmakers in states including Texas and Missouri.
The objective was to reshape electoral districts ahead of the 2026 midterms, potentially improving Republican prospects in competitive House races.
According to the source report, nine states ultimately adopted new congressional maps before the elections.
The strategy has attracted considerable political attention because changes to district boundaries can affect which party is better positioned to win particular seats.
Blair left his deputy chief of staff position in April 2026 to lead the Trump-backed super PAC MAGA Inc.
At the time, Trump described the move as a “short leave of absence” and indicated that Blair would return to the White House following the elections.
Whether that arrangement remains unchanged is now the subject of speculation.
Trump has his own concerns about election night
The president has hardly remained on the sidelines as Republicans prepare for November.
Recent weeks have seen him campaign for party candidates in competitive races, repeatedly encouraging supporters to “pretend I’m on the ticket.”
His message reflects an effort to mobilize voters who might otherwise be less enthusiastic about participating in an election without Trump himself as a candidate.
However, the president has also publicly acknowledged that the results could affect how his own leadership is judged.
Speaking at a rally in Tennessee last weekend, Trump complained about the political consequences he expects to face.
“If we don’t win the midterms, they are going to blame me,” he said.
“If we do win, I’ll get no credit whatsoever.”
The remarks contrast with Puck’s account of Trump potentially directing criticism toward Blair.
For now, Blair remains a prominent figure in the president’s political operation, and the reported discussions about assigning blame have not resulted in any announced personnel changes.
The outcome of November’s elections will determine whether Republicans retain control of Congress. It may also shape the future of some of the advisers who helped devise the party’s electoral strategy.
