Inside the Republican Party, initial shock at the stunning election results on Tuesday night quickly gave way to anger directed at former President Donald Trump. Following Democratic victories in several traditionally Republican strongholds, including Texas, Kansas, and South Carolina, a number of Republicans pointed fingers at Trump, arguing that his focus on personal legacy and disregard for voter concerns led to the party losing control of Congress.

Many expected to lose the House, acknowledging the difficulty of retaining the Senate in a cycle that historically favors the party out of power. However, the extent of the losses and the nature of the defeats have fueled internal recrimination. Some Republicans stated that Trump's unpopular policies, low approval ratings, and preoccupation with Washington construction projects served as a drag on their campaigns.

"It's on him. It's not on anybody else. It's a total, complete rejection of President Trump," stated Bill Miller, a prominent Republican lobbyist in Texas, in an interview with the BBC. He described the outcome as "a disaster of the first magnitude" that "nobody saw coming like this."

Gregg Peppin, a Republican strategist in Minnesota, echoed this sentiment, noting, "It was just one mistake after another. Clearly, in state after state, people did not like the president's policies." A White House ally suggested that public disapproval of Trump over issues like the Iran war, tariffs, and immigration policies converged to create a challenging environment for the party.

"There's palpable frustration [within] the party about how this has all played out," the ally said, adding that much of this frustration is "directed at Trump." The anger with Trump is described as "extremely high" among party insiders.

The BBC spoke with a dozen party operatives, campaign officials, White House allies, and others, many of whom requested anonymity to provide a candid assessment of Trump's role in the midterm strategy. These individuals offered critical perspectives on his influence and the impact of his policies on election outcomes.

The results represent a significant setback for Republicans, who had hoped for a stronger showing to build momentum heading into future elections. Instead, the losses in the House and the failure to secure a decisive victory in the Senate leave the party facing internal divisions and questions about its future direction.

This outcome contrasts sharply with the 2022 midterms, where Democrats under President Joe Biden lost only nine House seats and gained one in the Senate. The current results suggest a different political landscape, with Trump now facing a motivated opposition and significant internal criticism within his own party.