Trump ramps up campaign attacks as Democrats counter with cost concerns

Sixteen days remain before voters head to the polls for the midterms, and President Donald Trump is cranking up his campaign machine to rally GOP candidates. Democrats are hitting back hard, making the president a central issue while arguing that Republican control of Congress has fueled higher costs and instability overseas. In Georgia, Sen. Jon Ossoff mocked Trump at a recent rally, criticizing his handling of the economy and the conflict in Iran. Trump fired right back, targeting Ossoff and other Democrats personally as he pushes for Republicans in tight races. This fight highlights a bigger national question: will these elections act as a referendum on Trump's second term or simply an attack on the Democratic opposition?

In Michigan, Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed admitted Saturday that his sister-in-law was involved in federal litigation regarding the terrorist watchlist during the Obama administration. Fox News senior correspondent Mike Tobin pressed him about it directly, asking for details on a 2016 lawsuit where Mariam Jukaku challenged her placement on the Terrorism Screening Database. "Yeah," El-Sayed answered without hesitation. He explained that his sister-in-law did nothing wrong but was caught on the list and sued until she got cleared. He blamed Republican rival Mike Rogers for the accusations surrounding these family ties, which El-Sayed denies. Court filings suggest Jukaku faced extensive airport screening in 2012 and was believed removed from the watchlist by 2016. The FBI declined to confirm or deny her status in a statement released to Fox News.

House Speaker Mike Johnson is telling his party they will keep their narrow majority after November 3, even as Democrats try to use voter frustration against them. Johnson sees large crowds and strong candidates on the trail, comparing the mood to the 2024 election that gave Republicans control of Washington. "It's not going to be a giant majority," he said. "But I genuinely believe that we will have a working majority." Meanwhile, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries is drafting a first-100-days agenda in case his party takes back the chamber. Trump used a Saturday rally in Kentucky to urge voters to protect Republican control of Congress. He warned Democrats would try to undo his policies if they win either house and promoted candidates like Senate hopeful Andy Barr and House candidate Ed Gallrein. The president also announced plans for a proposed $100 million federal investment in a Kentucky pharmaceutical manufacturing facility, linking the project directly to a GOP victory in November. Republicans are facing real worries about inflation, gas prices, and the war with Iran just three weeks away from Election Day.