The White House was apparently "livid" after a MAGA senator launched a strategic move to potentially push forward a presidential bid to oust Vice President JD Vance.
The Trump administration was apparently blindsided by Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO), who launched a new anti-abortion group called the Love Life Initiative with his wife Erin, The Daily Beast reported.
"Clearly, Senator Hawley and his political team learned nothing from the 2022 elections, when the SCOTUS abortion ruling [overturning Roe v. Wade] resuscitated the Democrats in the midterms," an unnamed, close Trump adviser told Axios.
The Trump administration sees the move as a way for Hawley to plan on challenging Vance for the 2028 presidential run. They apparently did not know about Hawley's scheme until it went public.
President Donald Trump and other Republicans have said abortion rights are not a top concern after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v Wade in 2022.
Hawley, who been a vocal populist and often speaks to concerns among the working class, reportedly launched a dark money group to support the initiative, Axios reported. He and his wife have planned to reinitiate the conversation around abortion and have lined up a series of advertising campaigns, including an anticipated Super Bowl ad.
"We think that there needs to be a ... strong voice advocating for life," Hawley told Axios.
Trump and other Republicans think that focusing on abortion could be divisive, especially among independent voters and suburban women.
Another Trump adviser told Axios that the 2026 midterm election strategy should have "aggressive action focused on positive gains in the economy."
"That alone will be the driving force behind the next election," the adviser told the outlet. "Picking a fight on an issue like abortion in a midterm is the height of asinine stupidity."