# Michael Goodwin: How Trump reacts to this shellacking will determine his legacy

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/michael-goodwin-how-trump-reacts-to-this-shellacking-will-determine-his-legacy/
- Published: 2026-11-04T05:27:19+00:00
- Updated: 2026-11-06T04:54:59+00:00
- Original publisher: New York Post (publisher lean: Right)
- Original article: https://nypost.com/2026/11/04/opinion/how-trump-reacts-to-this-shellacking-will-determine-his-legacy/
- Topics: World

## Key points

- The midterms delivered a major rejection of Trump and the Republicans.
- High prices and low approval ratings had signalled trouble.
- The author says Trump’s response may define his legacy.

## Summary

The article argues that Republicans’ heavy losses in the 2026 midterms were a forceful rejection of Donald Trump, his policies and his leadership. It says the result was foreseeable given poor approval ratings and public anger over prices, and that Trump’s response could shape how his presidency is remembered.

The article cites an AP poll in which 65% of adults blamed Trump and his policies for high prices, while 17% approved of his handling of living costs. It compares the result with Barack Obama’s 2010 midterm losses, which the author says he failed to learn from, and notes that Trump’s 2018 losses in the House came alongside Republican gains in the Senate. The author urges Trump to accept responsibility and moderate his approach, pointing to tariffs, efforts to put his name on public assets and family self-dealing as areas of concern.

---
Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.