Trump scrambles to 'staunch the bleeding' in key region as support craters: GOP insiders

After a stop in Nevada on Thursday, President Donald Trump will be speaking at an event in Arizona on Friday to rally support ahead of the 2026 midterms, a tour of the Sun Belt region that one GOP strategist described as an effort to “staunch the bleeding” as the president’s support sinks to new lows, particularly among one critical voter bloc.

“For the first time, it’s not something that Trump has said. It’s his own actions,” said a GOP operative who spoke with Politico on the condition of anonymity for its report Friday, speaking to the president’s fall in support with Latino voters.

“I think ultimately, if this doesn’t get resolved, I think we see a lot of those Latinos who have been trending our way just stay home.”

Trump’s 2024 victory was achieved in part by historic gains with Latino voters, but that voter bloc has increasingly soured on the president as his second term stretches on. Trump won 2024 with between 46% and 48% support from Latino voters, whereas by April of 2026, around 67% of Latino voters nationwide now disapprove of Trump’s job performance.

Mike Madrid, a GOP strategist with a focus on the Latino vote, told Politico that it could be dire for Republicans if Trump is unable to “staunch the bleeding” with the critical voter bloc.

“In order for Republicans to hold the House, they’ve got to be almost 50% with Hispanic men – they’re not anywhere near that,” Madrid told Politico. “This is a second, third, fourth generation, English-dominant, blue-collar, non-college-educated worker, U.S. born. Listens to Joe Rogan, not Ranchero music. That’s who they’re losing … That’s who they need to get back.”