‘He should be doing better’: Even some Trump allies perceive his deviation from the path
Despite polls indicating a highly competitive race, some of Trump's allies are expressing concerns regarding his lack of focus.
TroibNews 
In mid-September, Donald Trump held a private meeting with one of his longtime friends, Steve Wynn, where the casino mogul and prominent Republican donor delivered a straightforward message: You’re off message, and it isn’t helping.
Wynn believed Trump was losing focus, particularly as the former president promoted a conspiracy theory alleging that Haitian immigrants were eating people's pets in Ohio, among other matters. To emphasize his concerns, Wynn presented Trump with polling data and urged him to concentrate on policy areas where Republicans perceive Kamala Harris, his opponent, as vulnerable, according to two individuals familiar with the discussion who requested anonymity.
The meeting highlighted a significant point of tension within Trump’s campaign. Despite polling indicating a tightly contested race, some of Trump’s allies worry that his instincts and blunt campaigning style could hinder his performance against Harris, who has proven to be a more formidable opponent than Joe Biden.
In interviews, over a dozen Trump supporters described the former president as facing a crossroads. He must choose between persisting with the recent missteps that have plagued his campaign or adopting a more strategic approach intended to appeal to a narrow group of undecided voters who could determine the election's outcome. Recently, he has aligned with polarizing figures like social media provocateur Laura Loomer and controversial former campaign manager Corey Lewandowski, promoted commemorative Trump coins, and claimed that if he loses, Jews would share some blame.
“It’s not that he’s going backwards,” said a Trump ally who spoke anonymously. “But he should be doing better.”
Wynn subsequently characterized the account of the meeting as “inaccurate,” though he did not provide further comments.
Amid the chaos of recent months, Republicans are cautiously optimistic about Trump’s chances. Public polling reveals a competitive race in critical battleground states. A New York Times/Siena College poll released on a recent Monday indicated potential strength for Trump in Georgia and Arizona—two states Biden won in 2020—as well as a narrow lead in North Carolina.
At a retreat in Sea Island, Georgia, over the weekend, Jason Thielman, executive director of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, informed donors that Trump was outperforming expectations in relation to where similar campaigns stood in 2016 and 2020, according to an attendee.
“It’s a close race but today President Trump would decisively win,” stated John McLaughlin, a pollster for the Trump campaign. “Having worked for Trump in 2016 and 2020 we’re in a better position than we were in past elections.”
However, with the election cycle entering its final phase, concerns about Trump have surfaced among the party’s leadership. He previously dominated his Republican primary opponents and held a stable lead over Biden. Nonetheless, recent months have brought significant turmoil—one of the most chaotic in American political history, during which Trump faced two apparent assassination attempts, and Biden withdrew from the race—leading him to lose his focus.
Some allies believe that after gaining a lead on Biden, the reality of confronting a tougher opponent in Harris has been disorienting for Trump, who has vented privately about the transition from Biden to Harris.
Consequently, Trump has returned to his familiar circle of controversial associates, conspiracy theories, and inflammatory rhetoric, inviting more unrestricted voices into his campaign. In mid-August, he expressed interest in bringing Lewandowski back, even after the latter had been ousted from a prominent position in a pro-Trump super PAC following accusations of unwanted advances at a charity dinner in Las Vegas.
But Lewandowski, who co-authored a book titled “Let Trump be Trump” shortly after Trump assumed office, has not resisted Trump’s erratic tendencies, according to one source familiar with the dynamics.
This move has disrupted an operation that had been the most cohesive of Trump’s three presidential campaigns. Three individuals briefed on the discussions revealed that Trump had indicated a desire to involve Lewandowski as a surrogate. However, since joining, Lewandowski has started referring to himself as the campaign’s chair, attempting to exert influence over the campaign’s operations—roles he has not been assigned.
As Trump readied for the September 10 debate, he collaborated with his team to devise “pivots”—responses that could seamlessly redirect questions to more favorable topics. Those familiar with the preparations, which featured Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz and former Hawaii Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, noted these sessions were productive. Yet, when Trump took the stage at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia, he was thrown off by Harris’ interference, especially her claim that his supporters were abandoning his rallies. Many of his planned pivots went unused.
Additionally, Trump undermined his attacks on Harris regarding immigration—a key aspect of his campaign and a vulnerability for her—by baselessly alleging that Haitian immigrants in Springfield, Ohio, were consuming residents' pets. According to two individuals knowledgeable about the situations, Trump had become aware of this narrative through coverage from The Federalist, a conservative outlet that highlighted a 911 call from a local resident. Ohio Sen. JD Vance, Trump’s running mate, had also been promoting this story.
“Trump is strongest when he is talking about what people care about the most: the economy, immigration, crime, trade, the Trump core messages,” commented Republican strategist David Urban, who led Trump’s successful 2016 campaign in Pennsylvania. “When he gets distracted and goes in different directions, it's less helpful. Every day we're not talking about those issues, we're letting Harris go untouched.”
While some Trump aides contend that his focus on the conspiracy theory has aided him by bringing immigration back to the forefront, others privately acknowledged that the pet-eating allegation and Trump’s overall combative demeanor represented a missed opportunity to criticize Harris effectively. Last week, Ohio Governor Mike DeWine published an op-ed denouncing Trump and Vance for their ongoing fixation on Springfield, where life has been disrupted by these claims.
The day after, Trump faced a new dilemma: Loomer.
Trump has long regarded the provocative activist as a “fighter”—one of his highest praises. Shortly before the debate, he invited her to travel with him to Philadelphia. This decision proved problematic, especially as Loomer accompanied him the following day to events commemorating the 9/11 anniversary. Critics, including some Republicans, seized on this association, given Loomer’s past comments labeling 9/11 an “inside job.”
The controversy surrounding Loomer escalated. After she posted on X mocking cultural stereotypes about Harris and her Indian American heritage, Georgia Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, a firm Trump ally, condemned Loomer’s “appalling and extremely racist” remarks. Loomer retaliated with a post targeting Greene. The situation intensified when North Carolina Sen. Thom Tillis and South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham joined Greene in rebuking Loomer.
Trump was fielding calls from allies concerned about Loomer’s presence, prompting him to finally distance himself from her. On September 13, Trump posted on X that Loomer “doesn’t work for the Campaign,” adding that he “disagree[s] with the statements she made.”
On September 15, Trump surprised Republicans once more by reacting to the endorsement of Harris by a popular young female pop star: “I HATE TAYLOR SWIFT!” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
One ally speculated that Trump’s all-caps post on a Sunday morning stemmed from a poll shown on ABC News’ “This Week,” highlighting Swift’s potential influence on the race. Trump had reportedly been irritated by the endorsement and decided to publicly attack Swift—who hails from the crucial state of Pennsylvania.
Trump continued his unpredictable behavior. When he visited Washington shortly after to attend events addressing antisemitism, he claimed that Jewish voters “would have a lot to do with the loss” if he fails to win in November, and referred to Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, who is Jewish, as “Hamas all the way.”
In response, Trump campaign spokesperson Steven Cheung asserted that Trump “has built the most powerful and most professional team in political history and, under his leadership, has overcome every single obstacle in his way.”
Loomer declined to comment, while Lewandowski referred inquiries to the campaign.
The impact of Trump’s behavior on the upcoming election remains uncertain. After nearly ten years in the public eye, many leading Republicans believe that voters have already made up their minds about Trump—either supporting him or opposing him with little room for change.
"Chins are going to wag no matter what happens, especially at this point in the campaign,” stated Urban. “Everyone is a campaign strategist.”
Nonetheless, several Trump allies have voiced concerns regarding his rhetoric and the apparent deviation of a former president who has been off course during such a closely contested race.
A Republican National Committee member noted: “You need to avoid distractions as you're building momentum towards Election Day.”
Lisa Kashinsky contributed to this report.
Anna Muller for TROIB News
Wynn believed Trump was losing focus, particularly as the former president promoted a conspiracy theory alleging that Haitian immigrants were eating people's pets in Ohio, among other matters. To emphasize his concerns, Wynn presented Trump with polling data and urged him to concentrate on policy areas where Republicans perceive Kamala Harris, his opponent, as vulnerable, according to two individuals familiar with the discussion who requested anonymity.
The meeting highlighted a significant point of tension within Trump’s campaign. Despite polling indicating a tightly contested race, some of Trump’s allies worry that his instincts and blunt campaigning style could hinder his performance against Harris, who has proven to be a more formidable opponent than Joe Biden.
In interviews, over a dozen Trump supporters described the former president as facing a crossroads. He must choose between persisting with the recent missteps that have plagued his campaign or adopting a more strategic approach intended to appeal to a narrow group of undecided voters who could determine the election's outcome. Recently, he has aligned with polarizing figures like social media provocateur Laura Loomer and controversial former campaign manager Corey Lewandowski, promoted commemorative Trump coins, and claimed that if he loses, Jews would share some blame.
“It’s not that he’s going backwards,” said a Trump ally who spoke anonymously. “But he should be doing better.”
Wynn subsequently characterized the account of the meeting as “inaccurate,” though he did not provide further comments.
Amid the chaos of recent months, Republicans are cautiously optimistic about Trump’s chances. Public polling reveals a competitive race in critical battleground states. A New York Times/Siena College poll released on a recent Monday indicated potential strength for Trump in Georgia and Arizona—two states Biden won in 2020—as well as a narrow lead in North Carolina.
At a retreat in Sea Island, Georgia, over the weekend, Jason Thielman, executive director of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, informed donors that Trump was outperforming expectations in relation to where similar campaigns stood in 2016 and 2020, according to an attendee.
“It’s a close race but today President Trump would decisively win,” stated John McLaughlin, a pollster for the Trump campaign. “Having worked for Trump in 2016 and 2020 we’re in a better position than we were in past elections.”
However, with the election cycle entering its final phase, concerns about Trump have surfaced among the party’s leadership. He previously dominated his Republican primary opponents and held a stable lead over Biden. Nonetheless, recent months have brought significant turmoil—one of the most chaotic in American political history, during which Trump faced two apparent assassination attempts, and Biden withdrew from the race—leading him to lose his focus.
Some allies believe that after gaining a lead on Biden, the reality of confronting a tougher opponent in Harris has been disorienting for Trump, who has vented privately about the transition from Biden to Harris.
Consequently, Trump has returned to his familiar circle of controversial associates, conspiracy theories, and inflammatory rhetoric, inviting more unrestricted voices into his campaign. In mid-August, he expressed interest in bringing Lewandowski back, even after the latter had been ousted from a prominent position in a pro-Trump super PAC following accusations of unwanted advances at a charity dinner in Las Vegas.
But Lewandowski, who co-authored a book titled “Let Trump be Trump” shortly after Trump assumed office, has not resisted Trump’s erratic tendencies, according to one source familiar with the dynamics.
This move has disrupted an operation that had been the most cohesive of Trump’s three presidential campaigns. Three individuals briefed on the discussions revealed that Trump had indicated a desire to involve Lewandowski as a surrogate. However, since joining, Lewandowski has started referring to himself as the campaign’s chair, attempting to exert influence over the campaign’s operations—roles he has not been assigned.
As Trump readied for the September 10 debate, he collaborated with his team to devise “pivots”—responses that could seamlessly redirect questions to more favorable topics. Those familiar with the preparations, which featured Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz and former Hawaii Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, noted these sessions were productive. Yet, when Trump took the stage at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia, he was thrown off by Harris’ interference, especially her claim that his supporters were abandoning his rallies. Many of his planned pivots went unused.
Additionally, Trump undermined his attacks on Harris regarding immigration—a key aspect of his campaign and a vulnerability for her—by baselessly alleging that Haitian immigrants in Springfield, Ohio, were consuming residents' pets. According to two individuals knowledgeable about the situations, Trump had become aware of this narrative through coverage from The Federalist, a conservative outlet that highlighted a 911 call from a local resident. Ohio Sen. JD Vance, Trump’s running mate, had also been promoting this story.
“Trump is strongest when he is talking about what people care about the most: the economy, immigration, crime, trade, the Trump core messages,” commented Republican strategist David Urban, who led Trump’s successful 2016 campaign in Pennsylvania. “When he gets distracted and goes in different directions, it's less helpful. Every day we're not talking about those issues, we're letting Harris go untouched.”
While some Trump aides contend that his focus on the conspiracy theory has aided him by bringing immigration back to the forefront, others privately acknowledged that the pet-eating allegation and Trump’s overall combative demeanor represented a missed opportunity to criticize Harris effectively. Last week, Ohio Governor Mike DeWine published an op-ed denouncing Trump and Vance for their ongoing fixation on Springfield, where life has been disrupted by these claims.
The day after, Trump faced a new dilemma: Loomer.
Trump has long regarded the provocative activist as a “fighter”—one of his highest praises. Shortly before the debate, he invited her to travel with him to Philadelphia. This decision proved problematic, especially as Loomer accompanied him the following day to events commemorating the 9/11 anniversary. Critics, including some Republicans, seized on this association, given Loomer’s past comments labeling 9/11 an “inside job.”
The controversy surrounding Loomer escalated. After she posted on X mocking cultural stereotypes about Harris and her Indian American heritage, Georgia Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, a firm Trump ally, condemned Loomer’s “appalling and extremely racist” remarks. Loomer retaliated with a post targeting Greene. The situation intensified when North Carolina Sen. Thom Tillis and South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham joined Greene in rebuking Loomer.
Trump was fielding calls from allies concerned about Loomer’s presence, prompting him to finally distance himself from her. On September 13, Trump posted on X that Loomer “doesn’t work for the Campaign,” adding that he “disagree[s] with the statements she made.”
On September 15, Trump surprised Republicans once more by reacting to the endorsement of Harris by a popular young female pop star: “I HATE TAYLOR SWIFT!” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
One ally speculated that Trump’s all-caps post on a Sunday morning stemmed from a poll shown on ABC News’ “This Week,” highlighting Swift’s potential influence on the race. Trump had reportedly been irritated by the endorsement and decided to publicly attack Swift—who hails from the crucial state of Pennsylvania.
Trump continued his unpredictable behavior. When he visited Washington shortly after to attend events addressing antisemitism, he claimed that Jewish voters “would have a lot to do with the loss” if he fails to win in November, and referred to Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, who is Jewish, as “Hamas all the way.”
In response, Trump campaign spokesperson Steven Cheung asserted that Trump “has built the most powerful and most professional team in political history and, under his leadership, has overcome every single obstacle in his way.”
Loomer declined to comment, while Lewandowski referred inquiries to the campaign.
The impact of Trump’s behavior on the upcoming election remains uncertain. After nearly ten years in the public eye, many leading Republicans believe that voters have already made up their minds about Trump—either supporting him or opposing him with little room for change.
"Chins are going to wag no matter what happens, especially at this point in the campaign,” stated Urban. “Everyone is a campaign strategist.”
Nonetheless, several Trump allies have voiced concerns regarding his rhetoric and the apparent deviation of a former president who has been off course during such a closely contested race.
A Republican National Committee member noted: “You need to avoid distractions as you're building momentum towards Election Day.”
Lisa Kashinsky contributed to this report.
Anna Muller for TROIB News
