Trump Considers Replacing Top Aides – President Donald Trump is reportedly growing frustrated with some of his most senior advisers and political strategists as Republicans head into the midterm elections amid dissatisfaction among their own voters and high chances of devastating losses.
With less than three weeks until Americans head to the polls, new reports suggest the president is preparing for the worst and questioning whether his closest allies are doing enough to protect the Republican majority in Congress.
White House Press Secretary Katie Zacharia holds first press briefing in the James S. Brady Press Briefing Room of the White House, Tuesday, October 13, 2026. (Official White House Photo by Andrea Hanks)
Trump is even reportedly considering replacing White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles — one of the highest-profile members of Trump’s team who has largely been seen as untouchable.
The reported internal disagreements come as national polls keep showing the president’s approval ratings sliding, with voters expressing their frustration over rising prices and the ongoing war with Iran.
A Reuters investigation published on October 17 claims the president has privately criticized some of his top advisers over campaign spending.
He has also reportedly criticized Republican candidate selections and expressed frustration that redistricting has not given Republicans a clear electoral advantage.
A B-1B Lancer with a Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile (JASSM) flies in the skies above Edwards Air Force Base, California, Nov. 20. The flight was a demonstration of the B-1B’s external weapons carriage capabilities. (Air Force photo by Ethan Wagner)
It leaves the president likely to spend the final two years of his presidency bogged down in Democrat-led investigations and a Congress that won’t pass his agenda.
Trump Considers Replacing Wiles
POLITICO reported on October 15 that the president has been privately asking friends and political allies whether he should replace Susie Wiles, the longtime adviser who ran his successful 2024 presidential campaign.
Four people familiar with the conversations said the president has also discussed several potential replacements, including Deputy White House Chief of Staff Stephen Miller, New York Yankees President Randy Levine, and former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy. Other names also floated as potential replacements include presidential envoy Steve Witkoff and Federal Housing Finance Agency Director Bill Pulte.
Removing Wiles would be a huge, unexpected step for the White House, however. Wiles has been widely credited with bringing more discipline to Trump’s second term and reducing some of the chaos seen during the first term, which was bogged down by high turnover and controversial firings.
Her position, however, has become increasingly vulnerable as rival factions begin to compete for influence inside the administration.
The president has publicly denied the reports and expressed confidence in his chief of staff. But that could soon change if the Republicans are wiped out in November.
Trump Threatens His Political Strategists
The tensions are extending well beyond the inner circle in the White House, with Axios reporting that the president even threatened to dismiss two senior Republican political strategists, James Blair and Chris LaCivita, after revelations about their political consulting work for a Russia-aligned government in Bosnia.
The two men had reportedly traveled to Republika Srpska, an autonomous entity inside Bosnia and Herzegovina, to provide political advice ahead of local elections. Their work raised questions about potential conflicts of interest and media attention, given their responsibilities in overseeing Republican preparations for the midterm elections.
President Trump responded by distancing himself from the advisers, calling them outside consultants but saying he would end their involvement with the White House if any conflict of interest emerged. He later determined there was no such conflict of interest, and the men continue working as outside advisers.
But the controversy is tied to Susie Wiles because Wiles’ daughter, Katie Wiles, reportedly organized or influenced the trip.
Republicans Spend Millions On Failing Election Campaign
The disagreements come against the backdrop of a failing, expensive Republican election campaign. On October 14, the Associated Press reported that Republican political groups have begun withdrawing advertising money from several competitive House districts, including races in Michigan, Ohio, New Jersey, and Iowa.
The Congressional Leadership Fund is reportedly redirecting those resources to districts where Republicans have a better chance of winning, in what appears to be a strategy to shore up support where it matters most and give up on lost causes.
If it works as planned, Republicans may be able to hold on to their safer seats in November and minimize potentially huge losses to the Democrats.
The Democrats, meanwhile, are extending their campaign operations into districts that were previously considered safe for Republican candidates.
The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee is attempting to raise an additional $17 million by October 22 to support the ongoing and expanding efforts.
Senate Republicans are also being forced to adapt their campaigns and devote substantial resources to defending seats that would normally be considered safe.
The National Republican Senatorial Committee recently made an emergency appeal to donors for an additional $8.9 million to defend seats in Alaska, Iowa, and Ohio, all states Trump won by double digits in 2024.
About the Author: Jack Buckby
Jack Buckby is a British researcher and analyst specializing in defense and national security, based in New York. His work focuses on military capability, procurement, and strategic competition, and he produces and edits analysis for policy and defense audiences. He brings extensive editorial experience, with a career output spanning over 1,000 articles at National Security Journal, and has previously authored books and papers on extremism and deradicalization.
