The administration pushed back against midterm fallout after projections confirmed Democrats won the House majority, creating a significant legislative hurdle for the White House. A White House official argued that the president's base only turns out in force when he is actively running, despite previous campaign messaging framing the vote as a presidential referendum. The official further noted that the president promoted several party candidates better than they managed to promote themselves. Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries is now positioned to potentially make history as the chamber's first Black speaker following an upcoming floor vote.
Key points
House Democrats are positioned to pursue an extensive oversight agenda against the admini…: House Democrats are positioned to pursue an extensive oversight agenda against the administration over the next two years.
The administration attributed the midterm losses to candidate quality rather than the pre…: The administration attributed the midterm losses to candidate quality rather than the president's own political standing.
Trump had urged supporters at previous rallies to treat the midterm election as a direct…: Trump had urged supporters at previous rallies to treat the midterm election as a direct referendum on his presidency.
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US President Donald Trump struck a defiant tone after Democrats made major gains in the 2026 US midterm elections. The POTUS claimed that Republicans would have won in a "landslide" had he been on the ballot.
"I wasn’t on the Ballot and if I was, we would have won IN A LANDSLIDE! Thank you for your attention to this matter," Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social.
During several rallies for Republican candidates, Trump had told voters to "pretend" he was on the ballot and vote.
Speaking to Fox News' Peter Doocy, a White House official said that the mood inside the White House was defiant on Tuesday, arguing that Trump himself was not on the ballot despite repeatedly urging voters in several states to treat the midterm elections as a referendum on his presidency.
US Midterm Election Results 2026
The official also suggested that Trump's supporters were more likely to turn out when the president was directly on the ballot. Defending the Republican performance, the official said Trump had done a better job promoting several Republican candidates than…
The historic flip in the Lone Star State arrived alongside an upset defeat of Governor Greg Abbott, securing full congressional control for Democrats. Grounding his platform in his religious background, the former educator focused on everyday affordability to overcome a deeply funded conservative apparatus. Widespread voter fatigue regarding consumer prices and foreign conflict ultimately unseated the scandal-plagued Republican establishment.
The flipping of six Republican-held Senate seats hands the upper chamber's majority back to Democrats, dealing a direct blow to Donald Trump's political agenda. Voters repudiated the president amid mounting frustration over tariff-related price increases and the ongoing conflict involving Iran. This shift terminates two years of unified Republican congressional control, allowing the new legislative majority to stall judicial appointments and scrutinize the executive branch.
Exclusive | 'End Iran War, Lower Tariffs': Suhas Subramanyam's Goals After Big US Midterms Win. Suhas Subramanyam in conversation with NDTV's Akshobh Giridharadas