Donald Trump responded to the Democrats’ decisive victory in the 2026 midterm elections by insisting that he would have won had he been on the ballot. In a Truth Social post shortly before 11 p.m. on Tuesday, November 3, he wrote: “I wasn’t on the ballot and if I had been, we would have won by a lot.” Earlier that evening, Trump and his advisers watched the results unfold at a reception in the White House East Room. He also attacked Fox News, accusing the network of being too accommodating toward Democrats.
The result sets up a period of divided government and could leave Trump with less influence over the legislative agenda. Before the election, he had warned that he would use his veto and pardon powers. The outcome is also expected to sharpen discussion about the Republican Party’s future.
During the first two years of his second term, Trump largely sidelined Congress despite Republican majorities in both chambers. The main exceptions included the One Big Beautiful Bill, budget votes, and the confirmation of administration officials and federal judges. Instead, he relied heavily on executive orders, signing 292 since January 2025.
Trump’s established preference for unilateral action, including when it puts Congress or the courts in the position of responding after the fact, may continue under divided government. The midterm defeat has not prompted him to accept personal responsibility: he has repeatedly claimed credit for victories while blaming others for losses.
Sources: Le Monde International.