President Donald Trump congratulated Democrats after they won majorities in both chambers of Congress, while warning he could veto legislation. (Foto: Instagram)
After Democrats secured majorities in both the Senate and the House in the midterm elections, President Donald Trump acknowledged the party’s victory and offered rare praise for his political rivals. In a phone interview with Fox News on Wednesday, Nov. 4, Trump said, “I’ll put it this way: congratulations to the Democrats. They did a good job.”
Trump sought to distance himself from personal responsibility for the results, which will reshape the final two years of his term. He said Democrats had been waiting 11 years to achieve this outcome, but added that he did not view it as a blow against him. The account characterized his remarks as shifting blame toward fellow Republicans.
The praise stood in contrast to Trump’s campaign rhetoric. For much of the campaign, he had described Democrats with labels ranging from communists to Islamists. He also reiterated that, unlike after his defeat in the 2020 presidential election, he accepts this election’s results and is willing to work with Democrats as they take control of Congress. “I can work with them on many issues,” he told Fox News.
Trump also warned that he was prepared to use his executive power to block legislation from the Democratic-controlled Congress. He said lawmakers could send him 50 bills they considered excellent, but that he could return them with a clear “Veto” stamp. His comments paired an expressed willingness to cooperate on some issues with a warning that he could reject legislation.
The war in Iran may also have affected the election, Trump acknowledged. Polls indicated that the conflict, which remained unresolved, and the resulting rise in oil prices were deeply unpopular with voters. “I think Iran played a role in this, but at the same time, people understood the importance of what I did regarding Iran,” he said.
Trump’s conciliatory tone toward Democrats did not extend to his own party. During the campaign, the 80-year-old president repeatedly urged Republicans to act as though his name were on the ballot. On Tuesday, however, he argued the opposite: “My name wasn’t on the ballot, and if it had been, we would have won in a landslide.” He made the statement in a post on Truth Social.
