MAGA supporters question Trump's role after historic midterm losses

Republicans suffered their worst electoral defeat in decades in Tuesday's midterms, prompting some supporters to question whether Donald Trump has become a liability to his own movement. The losses delivered Democrats decisive congressional majorities and control of key battleground states. Voters cited soaring fuel prices, the Iran war and Washington corruption as reasons for the rout, according to Reuters interviews with activists and analysis of social media. Trump responded by promoting Stephen Miller to chief of staff, doubling down on the movement's anti-immigration agenda rather than changing course. The defeat has sparked internal debate among MAGA factions about the movement's future, with some calling for a return to populist basics and others declaring it dead. Election denial claims have largely quieted, and candidates embracing Trump's false 2020 fraud allegations lost heavily.