With the 2026 midterm elections fast approaching, President Donald Trump has plenty of victories to tout. The economy is expanding at its fastest pace since 2022, according to a White House release citing Bloomberg News. Amazon is building a multibillion-dollar robotics plant in Texas. And the administration announced a historic oil deal securing U.S. majority control of more than 65 billion barrels of proven reserves in Venezuela. Yet, as commentator Brian Darling writes for American Thinker, one crucial promise remains unfulfilled—and it could cost Republicans dearly at the ballot box.
Darling argues that the GOP’s narrow majorities in the House and Senate are in jeopardy, in part because the mainstream media have focused on negative economic and foreign affairs stories while downplaying the administration’s wins. But beyond the media narrative, there’s a deeper issue: a constituency of single-issue voters who backed Trump in 2024 are waiting for him to keep a specific promise—saving flavored vaping. If he doesn’t deliver, Darling warns, those voters may abandon the party.
A Promise Made, But Not Yet Kept
During his 2024 campaign, Trump explicitly pledged to save flavored vaping, a move that resonated with adult vapers who rely on these products to quit smoking. According to Darling, the administration has made some progress—reports indicate that former FDA Commissioner Marty Makary was pushed to approve a limited category of flavored vaping products—but the effort was too slow to save Makary’s job. He was ultimately let go, Darling reports, because he was obstructing a campaign promise.
While the FDA has taken “baby steps” toward approving some of these products, Darling argues that it’s simply not enough. The vaping industry, he contends, faces potential obliteration, putting thousands of jobs at risk and stripping American adults of access to harm-reduction tools they depend on.
The Stakes for the Midterms
Darling frames this as a conservative principle: let the free market decide which products succeed, not government overregulation. He suggests that securing a Premarket Tobacco Product Application (PMTA) standard grounded in science—one that allows a free and fair marketplace—is the only way to ensure vaping voters turn out for Republicans in November.
The broader context is a midterm landscape that looks challenging for the GOP. Darling points to polling that suggests Republican majorities are in danger. He acknowledges that some promises are still in process, such as ending the Iran war quickly and addressing high spending levels. But he emphasizes that all promises matter—especially those that mobilize niche but passionate voter blocs.
“President Trump and his Republican allies must spike the football on wins and take the decisive action necessary to complete the unfulfilled promises President Trump made during his campaign,” Darling writes.
A Call to Action
As the midterms approach, the Trump administration has a choice: rest on its laurels or push to fulfill every campaign pledge. For vaping advocates, the clock is ticking. Without decisive action, Darling warns, the industry could be wiped out, and Republican voters who care deeply about this issue may stay home—or vote for someone who takes their concerns seriously.
Source: www.americanthinker.com — https://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2026/09/the-promise-trump-still-has-to-keep/