By Sohaib Shams
Top polling analyst Nate Silver suggested President Donald Trump might resign following Republican defeats in the 2026 midterm elections, citing a "weird intuition" that Trump could find a pretext to quit.
Silver's Podcast Remarks
Silver, who correctly predicted Democrats would regain control of both the House and Senate, made the comments on the "Still Counting" podcast Wednesday while discussing Vice President JD Vance's political future. He noted the historical precedent of presidents and vice presidents becoming rivals, saying that dynamic would be interesting to watch.
Vance's Distance from Trump
Following the November 3 elections, Vance issued a scathing post-mortem claiming "the reason we lost is the [Iran] war," a statement some observers viewed as an attempt to distance himself from Trump. Silver said this potential rivalry factored into his speculation about Trump's possible departure.
Trump's Public Response
Trump appeared largely unfazed by the results, accepting that the Iran war may have played a role but maintaining he made the right decision. He blamed GOP candidates, congratulated Democrats, and signaled willingness to work with the opposition. The next day, he gave reporters a tour of the White House ballroom under construction, dismissing questions about impeachment.
Internal White House Tensions
Behind the scenes, administration officials are reportedly tense. Trump has allegedly asked advisors about dismissing Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth over his role in the Iran war, while Secretary of State Marco Rubio is said to be on "resignation watch." The White House denied both reports, stating the president has a strong, united team focused on delivering for Americans.
