U.S. President Donald Trump acknowledged the Republicans’ defeat in the midterm elections after Democrats managed to seize control of Congress, marking a major setback that threatens to constrain his agenda during the final two years of his term.
With Democrats securing majorities in both the House of Representatives and the Senate, they will be able to block legislation Trump seeks to pass, as well as launch investigations into officials in his administration, a move they had pledged to pursue from an early stage.
Trump praised his Democratic opponents on Tuesday, expressing his full readiness to accept the results. Speaking to Fox News, he said they had performed well, adding: “I shouldn’t feel guilty.”
In remarks to The New York Times, Trump reaffirmed his readiness to accept the results and work with Democrats, expressing hope that they could reach understandings.
Meanwhile, House Democratic Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, who is expected to become Speaker of the House in the new Congress, pledged to hold Trump administration officials accountable.
Speaking to his supporters, Jeffries said Democrats would hold accountable those officials who had driven the country to unprecedented levels of corruption. He noted that officials’ preoccupation with enriching themselves, their families, friends, and financial backers came at the expense of improving the lives of Americans.
Trump acknowledged that the war with Iran had contributed to the Republicans’ defeat, according to remarks he made to Fox News on Tuesday evening.
In a sign of the challenges facing the White House, a U.S. presidential administration official described the atmosphere inside it as “challenging,” according to Agence France-Presse (AFP). The official warned that Trump would continue confronting the “radical left” regardless of the election results, adding: “Get ready for what’s coming.”
Democratic control of the House of Representatives will allow congressional committees to investigate several issues, including the war with Iran, mass deportation operations targeting migrants, and corruption allegations. It will also hinder Trump’s efforts to pass new legislation.
The Republicans’ loss of control of the Senate as well also threatens the president’s ability to confirm judges and appoint senior officials to his administration.
The cost of living had been the leading issue for many voters during the elections.
Trump defended his policies on Tuesday during a televised phone-in interview targeting voters on election morning, insisting that his measures concerning immigration, Iran, and tariffs had helped “rebuild” the country.
Speaking to Fox & Friends, he said: “We have to keep America great. We are great now; we were terrible two years ago.”
Trump had previously indicated that he could work with a Congress controlled by the opposition, saying in an interview broadcast on Monday: “I will veto everything,” before acknowledging that understandings with Democrats could be reached later.
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Author: Counselor Faisal Al-Mutairi.
Publication Date: November 4, 2026.
Updated: October 2026.
