Smiling Through the Trumpocalypse

Senate and House Republicans are determined to stick by the president, even as his poll numbers dip and more Americans start to question his tariffs, deportations, executive orders, and DOGE downsizing.

As difficult as it’s going to be to get all but three House Republicans on the same page with Senate Republicans, failure is not an option, Republicans have told me: If taxes go up for most Americans, Republicans will be blamed. Photo: Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images

Leigh Ann Caldwell

April 30, 2025

On the morning of Donald Trump’s 100th day in office, House Republicans emerged confident from a closed-door briefing about the state of their majority—in lockstep and seemingly unconcerned about their political viability in next year’s midterms. “It looks really bad for the Democrats,” Oklahoma Rep. Kevin Hern, a member of House Republican leadership, told me afterward. Member after member defended the president, downplaying the sour mood of the electorate and generally making reassuring noises. “There’s a plan, and, you know, in the end, I think results will speak for themselves,” Pennsylvania Rep. Dan Meuser told me.