Collins Bluntly Tells Trump He Is Wasting Time In Maine
President Trump told reporters on Monday he planned to swing through Maine for the midterm blitz. He said, “I think we’re going to Maine too” while noting he heads to Michigan soon. Yet Senator Susan Collins says the trip will not happen. According to her, President Trump will not visit Maine. According to the New York Post, she has heard nothing from his office about a visit.
When pressed again on the matter, Collins was blunt. Her response was that he is not coming to Maine. The senator explained her reasoning simply. “He’s talking about going to a lot of different states,” she said. She added a personal note about their relationship. “And I’m not exactly his favorite senator,” Collins admitted to the press. No public concrete plans for such a trip exist yet.
Collins has long walked a different path than the President. Democrat Troy Jackson tried to blame her for policies like the war in Iran and the trade war with Canada. Collins repeatedly distanced herself from Trump on these issues. She cited research showing she “voted against my party more than any other senator on either side of the aisle”. The New York Post reported she touted her efforts to fix problems from both the state government and the White House.
She pointed to a specific win for her constituents. Collins pointed out her negotiation success in removing salt from the tariff list. “What about everything else? We can’t eat road salt,” she asked. This contrast highlights the strain between the two Republicans. Maine’s Republican senator kept her seat despite the state voting blue in every presidential election this century. Former Vice President Kamala Harris defeated Trump in Maine by about seven points in 2024.
New polling data shows a tight race ahead of the election. New Maine polling from RedState indicates Troy Jackson leads Susan Collins by three points overall. However, Collins holds a strong lead with older voters. Older voters give Collins a 12-point lead, according to the data. This demographic split could decide the outcome in November. The senator’s ability to keep her seat despite the state’s blue trend is a key story.
Trump mentioned his intention to pass through Maine during his midterm blitz. Collins stated, “I’ve heard nothing from his office.” The lack of coordination suggests a split strategy. Per RedState, the race remains close with Jackson holding a slight edge. Collins relies on her record and older voters to stay in the race. The final result will depend on turnout and whether the President actually shows up.