Bahk Eun-ji has been with The Korea Times since 2012, building a career across multiple desks. She began at the Business Desk, where she conducted in-depth interviews with key figures in Korea's corporate world. Later, she moved to the Politics & City Desk, focusing on education policy and social affairs. She later served as team leader of the digital content team, leading curation efforts on the newspaper’s homepage and reshaping print stories for social media audiences to enhance digital reach. Now back on the Politics Desk, she covers the National Assembly and the Ministry of National Defense, with a renewed focus on political developments.
INTERVIEW Republicans face midterm risks as Middle East crisis drags on, former Trump official says
Fred Fleitz, vice chair of the America First Policy Institute (AFPI), speaks at a press briefing during the Asan Plenum 2026 in Seoul. Courtesy of Asan Institute for Policy Studies
By Bahk Eun-ji
Fleitz warns conflict is distracting from economy, hurting GOP prospects
The conflict in the Middle East could prove costly for Republicans in the 2026 midterm elections, a former senior Trump administration official warned Wednesday, cautioning that the crisis risks pulling U.S. President Donald Trump's attention away from the economic issues critical to securing his political base.
Fred Fleitz, a former chief of staff of the U.S. National Security Council, said the war could complicate the political landscape as the midterms approach.
“I think the midterms are going to be very hard for Republicans to hold the House,” Fleitz told The Korea Times, Wednesday.
He urged the Trump administration to refocus on domestic priorities, particularly the economy, to maintain support among his base as well as independents.
“The president and his team really need to double down right now, reassuring the American people and focusing on economic issues,” he said.
Fleitz said international developments risk pulling attention away from that effort.
“These international issues are distracting Trump from what he needs to do to nail down his base and independents,” he said.
He also warned of broader political consequences if Republicans lose control of the House, saying Democrats would likely move quickly to launch investigations and impeachment efforts, which could make it harder for the administration to govern.
U.S. President Donald Trump gestures as he responds to a question from the news media during a briefing on Iran in the White House in Washington, D.C., Monday. EPA-Yonhap
On the trajectory of the conflict itself, Fleitz said a ceasefire could provide a path to ending the war, but cautioned that key details remain unclear.
“I think Trump was going to end the war anyway in a week or so. This may be a way to end the war and end threats to the Strait of Hormuz,” he said.
At the same time, he raised concerns about possible conditions attached to Iran’s agreement.
“I’m worried about strings attached to what Iran agreed to,” he said, adding that it is unclear whether the arrangement would ensure safe passage through the strait.
Fleitz also described Iran as “a broken regime,” suggesting that any fundamental change would have to come from within the country.
Fleitz is in Seoul to attend the Asan Plenum 2026, which took place Wednesday.
The Asan Institute for Policy Studies presented what it described as a “brand new concept of MAGA (Make Alliances Great Again)” as a framework to modernize alliances.