U.S. President Donald Trump opened the door today (Wednesday) to cooperation with the Democrats, following the setback the Republican Party suffered in the midterm elections. According to Fox News projections, the Democrats have won control of both the House of Representatives and the Senate.
“They’ve already called, and they want to work with me,” Trump said during a Politico broadcast. He noted that he had already spoken with several Democratic Party leaders, though he did not disclose their names. “We will work with the Democrats to ensure that things go well for our country,” he added.
In an interview with Fox News, Trump revealed that he had received calls from five “senior Democrats”—two senators and three members of the House of Representatives. He added that three other Democrats were waiting to speak with him.
BREAKING: President Trump congratulates Democrats on their midterm victories but makes one thing clear: He does not view the results as a rejection of his leadership.
“Congratulations to the Democrats. They did a good job. They’ve been looking for this one for 11 years, and they finally got it. But I don’t view it as a hit on me. I think we’ve done … We’ve had the greatest two years in the history of the presidency.”
Tune in to Fox News Channel now for live midterm election coverage
— Fox News (@FoxNews) November 4, 2026
Despite his expressed willingness to cooperate, Trump made it clear that he is not abandoning his primary source of leverage. “I have the right to veto everything, but I don’t want to sit there for two years vetoing everything,” he said.
From Veto Threats to Calls for Cooperation
These remarks signal a shift in tone compared to the statements Trump made on the eve of the elections. Even before the polls closed, he dubbed himself “Mr. Veto,” stating that if the Democrats took control of Congress, he would use his authority to block their legislation.
“I guess I’ll become Mr. Veto.”
President Trump lays out his strategy for dealing with a potential Democratic-controlled Congress in an exclusive interview with Miranda Devine.
Trump says he would veto legislation before eventually negotiating compromises, while expressing hope Republicans maintain control after Tuesday’s midterms.
— Fox News (@FoxNews) November 1, 2026
“The ultimate power is in my hands—it’s called the veto,” Trump told CBS. He predicted that after a few months of him blocking their bills, the Democrats would come to him seeking a deal.
Once the scale of the Republican defeat became clear, Trump’s tone shifted toward reconciliation. He congratulated the Democrats, saying, “They did a good job.” In a conversation with CBS, he added that he looked forward to working with them “for the good of our country.”
Nevertheless, the President made it clear that if the Democrats passed legislation he opposed, he would exercise his authority. In an interview with Fox, he remarked that they might put forward “crazy” proposals—his term—and that he would veto them until they agreed to negotiate.
Democrats on the Path to Full Control
According to Fox News projections, the Democrats have secured a majority in both chambers of Congress. This marks the end of Republican control over the House of Representatives and the Senate; consequently, for the final two years of his term, Trump will have to contend with a Congress controlled by the opposing party.
Despite the Democratic victory, Trump retains significant power. Overriding a presidential veto requires a two-thirds majority in both the House of Representatives and the Senate—a threshold significantly higher than a simple majority.
Trump refused to accept personal responsibility for the defeat. He argued that the Republicans lost because his name did not appear on the ballots, adding that in some races, voters simply did not like the candidates. At the same time, he acknowledged that the conflict with Iran contributed to the outcome.