MAGA Reckons With Midterm Losses and Trump's Leadership

Republicans suffered a sweeping defeat in Tuesday's midterm elections, prompting supporters of President Donald Trump's Make America Great Again movement to question whether his leadership caused the losses and whether the movement can survive. Trump responded Friday by promoting Stephen Miller, architect of his hardline immigration policies, to chief of staff, doubling down on the movement's core agenda. Interviews with activists and analysis of social media showed supporters blaming Republican leaders, Trump's advisers, and sometimes Trump himself for broken promises on living costs and the Iran war. The Democratic victory gave them large majorities in both chambers, with Democrats potentially controlling up to 56 Senate seats. Election denial candidates lost heavily, and some prominent MAGA figures declared the movement dead, while others urged a return to populist and nationalist basics.