Carville asks if Trump is ‘trying to lose’ midterms or if there is ‘some other explanation’

Democratic strategist James Carville questioned President Trump’s midterms strategy as Republicans face a rocky political road this election cycle.

On a Thursday episode of his “Politics War Room” podcast, Carville and co-host Al Hunt discussed Trump’s controversial statements regarding Iran potentially striking Los Angeles and San Diego, prompting the strategist to ask if the president “trying to lose.”

“I mean, there’s nothing that he does that’s consistent with trying to win, and [there’s] probably not much he can do. He is the central issue in the campaign, he dominates everything. But I got to keep asking: Is he trying to do this? Does he just want to screw the congressional Republicans? Does he hate them?” Carville said.

He continued, “I don’t know. There’s some other explanation for this behavior. It might be that he’s just out of his goddamn mind. Who knows?”

Republicans are facing an uphill battle in this year’s midterms, campaigning as the Trump administration deals with the Iran war’s increasing unpopularity, the president’s sagging approval numbers and mounting cost of living concerns. Nonpartisan election forecaster Decision Desk HQ favors Democrats to win back both chambers of Congress this fall.

According to a Thursday morning DDHQ polling average , Trump’s approval rating was sitting at 37.4 percent.

“One thing I’m not worried about is Donald Trump out there campaigning. He is out of control,” Hunt said before highlighting the president’s comments on the California cities and disputed inflation claims .

In a recent Reuters/Ipsos survey, 51 percent of Trump voters felt enthusiastic, either very or somewhat, to vote next month. By contrast, the enthusiasm rate for those who voted for former Vice President Kamala Harris was 15 percentage points higher.

On Saturday, Trump pressed his supporters to go to the polls for next month’s midterms, pledging a “big” GOP victory if they do so.

“You got to get out and vote. You got to get out. You got to vote for these guys,” Trump said during the Ohio rally.

When reached for comment, White House spokesperson Davis Ingle said in an emailed statement that, “James Carville is a stone-cold loser who suffers from a severe and incurable disease known as Trump Derangement Syndrome, and it has completely rotted his peanut-sized brain.”