President Donald Trump said he did not see Republican losses in the 2026 midterm elections as a rejection of his presidency, after CNN projected that Democrats would win control of both the House and the Senate. “I don’t view it as a blow against me,” Trump said in an interview with Fox News.
Trump defended his record, saying his administration had delivered what he called the best two years in presidential history in terms of the economy and its accomplishments. Asked for a final message to voters, he congratulated Democrats, saying they had worked toward the result for 11 years.
Earlier in the interview, Trump blamed some of the Republican candidates he had backed, saying they had opposed him and failed to motivate his supporters to vote.
The projected Democratic gains include Senate victories in South Carolina, Texas, Ohio, Kansas and Iowa. Democrats also won races in states where Trump had prevailed in 2024, including South Carolina and Texas. The final size of their majorities had not yet been determined as votes were still being counted.
Control of both chambers would give Democrats greater ability to investigate the administration and issue subpoenas. Their Senate majority could also block Trump’s judicial nominees. However, the president’s veto power and the 60-vote threshold required to pass most legislation in the Senate would limit the party’s ability to enact much of its agenda.
CNN’s report cited inflation, Trump’s tariffs, the war in Iran and concerns about his conduct and personal enrichment among the apparent factors behind the Republican losses. CNN voter surveys indicated that more than six in ten voters disapproved of Trump, and two-thirds said his policies had worsened the economy.
Sources: CNN Brasil.