Let's say it's 2018 and Trump is at 35% approval.
If Republicans running for, let's say Senate, try and criticize him or distance themselves from him, will he be able to keep his mouth shut? Or will he start attacking any Republican that goes against him due to his ego?
If he does the latter, Republicans are going to be an even more unenviable position going into 2018. Either suck up to Trump and lose the middle, or fight him and lose the base. It's going to be hard to find a middle ground with Trump's loud mouth commenting on things constantly. He would force candidates to either be with him or against him.