President Donald Trump congratulated Democrats after their midterm victories delivered control of both chambers of Congress, acknowledging that the Iran war contributed to Republican losses while rejecting the result as a judgment on his presidency.
Speaking by telephone during Fox News' "Democracy 26" coverage, Trump said he accepted the outcome of the November 3 elections and could cooperate with the incoming Democratic majorities. He also warned that he would veto legislation he opposed.
"Well, I say this: congratulations to the Democrats. They did a good job," Trump said. "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."
Democrats' gains leave Trump facing an opposition-controlled House and Senate from January 2027, creating obstacles to his legislative agenda during the final two years of his second term.
Trump acknowledged the electoral consequences of the US-Israeli war against Iran, which was in its ninth month when Americans voted. Democratic candidates repeatedly linked the conflict to higher petrol prices and pressure on household budgets.
"I think a part of it was Iran, but at the same time, people understood the importance of what I've done with Iran," he told Fox.
The president argued that voters supported his approach to Tehran but objected to the associated fuel costs. That distinction reflected his interpretation of the result. In a separate Wall Street Journal interview, reported by Reuters, Trump said attacking Iran had been justified and that he would make the same decision again.
An Associated Press voter poll found that roughly four in ten voters identified the economy as the country's most important issue, while about three in ten chose democracy. The findings did not isolate the war's influence on individual votes.
Trump's response also departed from his campaign appeals for Republicans to "pretend I'm on the ballot." After the defeat, he argued that his absence had been the problem.
"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," he wrote on Truth Social.
He singled out Texas Governor Greg Abbott, who lost to Democrat Gina Hinojosa, calling him a "RINO," or Republican in name only. Abbott conceded and said he would help Hinojosa prepare to take office. Democrat James Talarico also defeated Republican Ken Paxton in Texas' Senate race.
An unnamed White House official similarly questioned Republican candidates' performance, telling AFP that Trump had done a better job promoting some contenders than they had done themselves.
The president's offer of cooperation came with a warning about the limits of Democratic legislative power.
"I can work with them on many things," Trump said. But he added: "They can send over, you know, 50 different great bills that they're all excited about, and I send them back with a nice stamp -- 'veto.'"
The new Congress begins on January 3, 2027. Overriding a presidential veto requires a two-thirds vote in each
