<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><em>Washington Examiner</em> executive editor <a href="https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/author/bob-cusack/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Bob Cusack</a> stated that he anticipates more Republicans will distance themselves from President <a href="https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/tag/donald-trump/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Donald Trump</a> as the <a href="https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/tag/2026-election/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">midterm elections</a> approach.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">“I don’t think the White House appreciates it, and I do think that those types of statements are starting to come from members of <a href="https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/tag/congress/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Congress</a> now,” Cusack said during an appearance on CNN’s <em>Laura Coates Live</em> on Tuesday. “Republican members of Congress … they’re breaking with him.”</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Trump is under increasing pressure from his party as the midterm elections draw near. Rural Republicans in competitive districts are urging the president to take action to lower diesel prices, advocating for a ban on diesel exports. Diesel prices reached a record high on Monday, averaging $6.50 per gallon, while gasoline averaged $4.48, according to AAA.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">“There’s going to be more of them [Republicans defecting] because they are seeing [Trump’s effects] in their red districts, or in their red states, they are now worried about their races,” Cusack said. “And I think the dam could break after the election.”</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><a href="https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/campaigns/congressional/4736992/republicans-diesel-export-ban-trump-prices/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>RURAL REPUBLICANS PRESS TRUMP FOR RELIEF AS DIESEL PRICES SURGE</strong></a></p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) tactics also present challenges for Republicans as calls for reform continue. Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar (R-FL) <a href="https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/campaigns/congressional/4731446/florida-republican-trump-immigration-policy-gone-too-far/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">broke from Trump</a> last week, stating that some immigration efforts have “gone too far.”</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">“As far as ICE, Democrats, you [referring to his co-interviewee, Democratic strategist Sawyer Hackett] mentioned a check on ICE, that would be a smart thing to do, not defunding ICE, but putting, you know, [artificial intelligence] guardrails,” Cusack said. “Most people would support putting some restrictions on ICE, and that’s what [Democrats are] going to have to do after the election, cause they are going to win the House. They may not win the Senate, but they are going to win the House.”</p>