Donald Trump swung from surprise to defiance as Republicans suffered a crushing election-night defeat, attacking Iran, threatening to block Democratic legislation and only later congratulating his opponents.
Democrats captured control of both the House of Representatives and the Senate, dealing Trump a devastating setback that could mark the beginning of the end of the MAGA era.
Speaking to Fox News late in the evening as the results emerged, Trump acknowledged that he had been taken aback by the scale of the Democratic victory.
‘I’m a little bit surprised. I thought they’d [the Republicans] do better,’ he said, before highlighting the enormous crowds that attended his campaign rallies.
‘Look, they got out for the rallies. You never saw rallies that big. I mean, outside of the rallies I have, when I have, you know, the general election, which is, you know, a step above. In all fairness, like maybe a few steps above. Outside of that, I mean, these were the biggest rallies ever,’ he said.
‘Nobody’s ever seen anything like it. I left every one of those states, and the places were packed with thousands, and in some cases tens of thousands of people outside, trying to get in and having to watch a jumbotron, as they call it.’
The President quickly sought to shift responsibility away from his own declining approval ratings.
Trump admitted he was surprised by the scale of the Democrats’ success
Supporters of Maine Democratic Senate candidate Troy Jackson cheer
Trump shared a picture of a red MAGA cap to his Truth Social, with the words ‘VETO’ on it (From @realDonaldTrump on Truth Social)
‘They didn’t like the candidates…. This MAGA base is incredible, the most loyal people, the greatest people, the people that built America.
I was trying to get people in that were people that, frankly, I didn’t get along with. But for purposes of the party I went along with it, and the base would tell me… sir, they weren’t for you.’
He suggested that several Republican candidates had failed to give their supporters enough reason to vote.
‘In other cases they just didn’t inspire the people to get out and vote,’ Trump said. ‘And I wasn’t on the ballot. If I was on the ballot, they would have gotten out.’
Despite the scale of the Republican defeat, Trump offered some recognition of his opponents’ campaign.
‘I think the Democrats did a good job, I really do…. They fought hard. They’ve been fighting me for a long time.’
He repeatedly argued that the result should not be treated as a personal loss because his name had not appeared on the ballot.
‘I don’t like to consider it a defeat for me. I wasn’t on the ballot,’ he said.
Asked whether he would accept the election results, Trump replied: ‘Yeah sure, I’ll accept them, why wouldn’t I.’
Trump, however, has previously questioned, qualified or refused to accept US election results.
The President also said he was prepared to work with Democrats.
At the same time, he identified several issues on which he said he would not compromise, including an ‘open border’, ‘men playing in women’s sports’ and ‘transgender [mutilation] of children’.
He said there were ‘many things’ on which he could cooperate with Democrats, including immigration.
Trump warned that Democrats would send legislation he considered ‘insane’ to his desk and vowed to reject it.
‘They’ll send over things that are insane, and I’ll veto them,’ he said. ‘And after a couple of months of vetoes, they’ll call and they’ll say, “How do we get this stuff done?” And we’ll work together.’
The President acknowledged that the cost of living, including higher fuel prices, had contributed to the Republican losses.
He attributed the rise in gas prices to the conflict with Iran, suggesting voters were unwilling to bear the immediate financial cost of his foreign policy.
‘I understand that, [but] I don’t agree with it… it’s a short-term problem for long-term gain… The gasoline was caused by Iran.’
Democratic gubernatorial candidate Nevada Attorney General Aaron Ford, left, greets supporters
Attendees wait for Michigan Republican Senate candidate Mike Rogers to arrive to speak
Trump also criticized Fox News over coverage of his declining popularity.
‘I read in Fox that I’m not popular,’ he complained, suggesting the network should find new pollsters.
When presenter Bret Baier noted that the results broadly matched the network’s polling, Trump doubled down, claiming that its surveys about him had been wrong for 12 years.
Earlier, as the first polls closed, Trump had expressed his election-night frustration on Truth Social, calling Fox News exit-poll questions ‘BULLS***’.
The Fox News poll found that 87 per cent of voters were concerned about gas prices, while 62 per cent blamed Trump.
He later texted Fox News host Greg Gutfeld during a live broadcast, writing: ‘I inherited the worst prices and inflation in history from Sleepy Joe. Prices are heading down FAST!’
During his Fox interview several hours later, Trump was asked what message he wanted to send to the American people. He again briefly acknowledged the Democratic victory, saying: ‘Congratulations to the Democrats, they did a good job.’
But he remained unwilling to accept that the result reflected dissatisfaction with his presidency.
‘I don’t view it as a hit on me… There was a mood in the air, I guess, and if you look, I shouldn’t feel guilty.’
He then turned to Europe, contrasting the continent’s struggles with what he described as America’s success.
‘You look at Europe – it’s dying. You look at what’s going on in France and what’s going on in Italy and all the other countries, they’re going through a terrible time. They may not even survive, frankly, and we’re thriving.’
In another online reaction, Trump posted an image of a red MAGA cap bearing the word ‘VETO’ on Truth Social, appearing to reiterate his willingness to block Democratic legislation.
Another late-night post from the President read: ‘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.’
The midterm elections produced a political earthquake, with several traditionally Republican strongholds turning blue.
In Texas, Democratic newcomer James Talarico defeated Trump-backed Republican Ken Paxton, while South Carolina elected a Democratic senator for the first time since 1998.
Most strikingly, Kansas sent a Democrat to the US Senate for the first time since 1932, during the Great Depression.
Democrats also recorded unexpected Senate victories in Iowa and Ohio, states Trump had won by more than ten points in the 2024 presidential election.
In one of the night’s most closely watched contests, left-wing Democrat Abdul El-Sayed declared victory over Republican Mike Rogers in Michigan, becoming the first Muslim elected to the Senate.
Democratic US Senate candidate and Texas State Representative James Talarico reacts after his victory
California Republican gubernatorial candidate Steve Hilton shows off the inside of his jacket
Jubilant Democrats described the results as a ‘blue tsunami’ or a ‘Bluenami’.
Although Trump was not on the ballot, the midterms effectively became a nationwide referendum on his presidency. The Republicans’ sweeping losses triggered an immediate blame game inside the White House.
According to exit polls, voters appeared to deliver a harsh verdict on Trump’s failure to reduce the cost of living for ordinary Americans.
The result, reflecting a major shift among Trump’s once powerful MAGA base, will also raise questions about any ambitions Vice President JD Vance may have for a 2028 presidential campaign.
Control of both chambers of Congress will push Trump into lame-duck territory during his final two years in office.
He is likely to face Democrat-led investigations into himself, his allies and his family, and could even be impeached for a third time.
Democratic congressman Robert Garcia will lead some of those investigations as chair of the House Oversight Committee.
He delivered a blunt two-word warning: ‘Lawyer up.’
The Democratic takeover will also prevent Trump from advancing much of his agenda through Congress.
The President will instead have to rely on executive orders in areas where he retains authority, including tariffs, immigration, foreign policy and military action, while using his veto power to prevent Democrats from turning their policies into law.