Many Republicans want to lose the midterms so they don’t have to pass Trump-backed bills, Laura Ingraham claims

Fox News host Laura Ingraham claimed that many Republicans “secretly” want to lose the midterm elections to avoid having to pass legislation.

Ingraham made the extraordinary claim during a Thursday discussion with Fox Business commentator Larry Kudlow. The two cited a series of economic indicators that they said showed the U.S. economy was performing remarkably well.

Despite gas prices soaring amid the ongoing Iran war, Kudlow said “the economy is booming.” He added: “Wealth is up, income is up, poverty is down, business is doing fabulously well.”

“One of the most incredible statistics is the Trump administration in one year has grown personal incomes more than Biden in four,” Ingraham said, citing newly released Census Bureau data showing that real median household income reached a record high in 2025.

“Why aren’t Republicans screaming this from the rooftops?” Ingraham asked. Kudlow, a former Trump administration economist, replied: “So I call this the greatest story never told, because the GOP’s not telling it.”

Ingraham then suggested the problem went beyond poor messaging.

“How many Republicans secretly want Trump to lose?” she said. “I actually think there are a lot of Republicans on the hill who will be happy not to have the burden of having to pass legislation, Larry. They’re almost going to be relieved for a little while, at least, to be in the minority.”

While in the majority, Republicans have not been particularly productive. Congress set a modern record in 2025, passing the fewest bills in the first year of a new presidency, according to The Washington Post.

“I’m sorry to report that,” Ingraham added. “But there’s no other explanation for why they shouldn’t be on the offense of the U.S. economy.”

“Well, I think they better get on the offense otherwise a lot of them are gonna be out of work,” Kudlow responded, adding that, “You have to have GOP therapy sessions.”

Polls suggest many Americans do not share Ingraham and Kudlow’s rosy assessment of the economy. In an August Financial Times survey, 53 percent of voters said they were in a worse financial position under Trump than under former President Joe Biden.

Gas prices have emerged as a major concern. In a July Politico survey, 46 percent of respondents said they expected the issue to affect their votes in the November midterms. As of Friday, the national average price of a gallon of gasoline was $4.46, according to AAA — up from $2.98 two days before the Iran war began in February.

Polls also indicate the Republicans could endure a shellacking in the upcoming midterm elections, which will determine control of the House and Senate. Numerous surveys show Democrats with an edge on the generic congressional ballot. Historically, the president’s party loses seats in the elections.

Last month, Ingraham warned that “Republicans better get their act together.”