On Monday’s Fox News program “The Five,” hosts Greg Gutfeld and Kayleigh McEnany conceded that Republicans face real risk heading into the November midterms. McEnany, who once served as the White House press secretary, warned that historical trends make this an “uphill battle” for President Donald Trump’s party.
The candid exchange followed a comment from co-host Harold Ford Jr., a former Democratic congressman from Tennessee, who said President Trump is “underwater” on major topics like health care and the economy. Gutfeld, visibly worried about his party’s chances, pressed McEnany during the Mar. 16, 2026 broadcast.
“Kayleigh, I don’t wanna be surprised or blindsided in November,” Gutfeld said. “Should we be honest now and say, are we in danger?”
McEnany, who was Trump’s press secretary in his first term, answered plainly that Republicans are indeed at risk, citing the common pattern of the party in power losing ground in midterm elections.
The admission came as recent polling data produced a mixed picture for Republicans. An NBC News survey conducted Feb. 27–Mar. 3, 2026 of 1,000 registered voters by phone and online found GOP advantages on some issues but deficits on others.
The poll showed Republicans ahead by 27 points on border security and by 12 on immigration, though both leads have narrowed since October. Democrats held leads on protecting constitutional rights (+7), safeguarding democracy (+11), and handling health care (+20). On the economy, the parties are tied at 40% each — Republicans’ weakest result on that question in NBC News polling since December 2017.
Democrats also lead the generic congressional ballot, with 50% of registered voters preferring Democratic control of Congress this fall versus 44% for Republicans. Democrats need a net gain of three seats to win the House majority; the Senate looks harder for them to flip.
McEnany tried to steer the conversation toward optimism, saying Republicans can win if they concentrate on “issues” instead of “distractions.” She mentioned a recent talk with former Senator Joe Manchin — the West Virginia independent who left the Democratic Party in 2024 — who allegedly told Democrats to follow leaders like Senator John Fetterman rather than Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer.
The host also said Democrats have strategic problems of their own and cannot rely on what she labeled “Trump Derangement Syndrome” as a path to victory. “TDS cannot be the strategy in 2028. That’s not going to take you to The Promised Land,” she said.
She added that Democrats are divided on big policy issues such as Medicare for All, Israel, and what she called “government-run grocery stores.”
The exchange echoed wider worries after contentious actions by Trump’s second administration. The Feb. 28, 2026 strike on Iran — plunging the U.S. into a conflict with no clear end — surprised many, given Trump’s prior “America First” rhetoric and opposition to foreign entanglements.
The administration has had to defend the war to a skeptical public as higher gas prices hit household budgets. An NBC News poll found 54% of voters disapprove of Trump’s handling of Iran and believe the U.S. should not have used military force.
Voters have also reacted to the “One Big Beautiful Bill” Trump signed in July 2025. Its Medicaid provisions are expected to leave 7.5 million more people uninsured, and a total of 10 million more Americans could be uninsured by 2034. The Congressional Budget Office reported that the lowest-income families would see roughly a $1,200 annual drop in projected income, largely from cuts to Medicaid and food assistance.
The war has raised tensions between the administration and the media. FCC Chairman Brendan Carr threatened on Saturday to revoke broadcast licenses, echoing Trump’s criticism of news coverage of the U.S.-Israeli conflict in Iran. “Broadcasters that are running hoaxes and news distortions — also known as the fake news — have a chance now to correct course before their license renewals come up,” Carr said. President Trump backed the threat, calling media outlets “Corrupt and Highly Unpatriotic.”
McEnany’s admission of GOP vulnerability marks a notable tonal shift. Earlier this year, Democratic strategist James Carville told Fox News he expected a Democratic “wipeout” for Republicans in the midterms — a forecast that surprised McEnany. Carville predicted Democrats could net “at a minimum 25 seats, maybe as high as 45” and potentially take the Senate.
McEnany isn’t alone in warning of trouble for Republicans. The nonpartisan Cook Political Report moved 18 House races toward Democrats this month, citing Trump’s low approval numbers and a series of Democratic special election wins nationwide.
Even with her frank appraisal of the challenges, McEnany insisted Republicans can prevail with the right approach, emphasizing substantive policy debates. She said “elections are not referendums; they are choices” and argued that if Republicans “litigate the issues and not the distractions, they end up winning.”
The November midterms will determine whether McEnany’s confidence is justified or whether historical patterns and current dynamics lead to the losses Gutfeld and McEnany now admit are possible.
