Megyn Kelly accused President Donald Trump of damaging the Republican Party through greed and an inner circle of “grifters” following the GOP’s devastating midterm losses.

Kelly, a registered Independent who describes herself as “more right-leaning,” criticized Trump on Wednesday after Democrats made history overnight by capturing both the House and the Senate.

The political commentator offered an unsparing assessment of Trump, who has been described as a lame duck after the sweeping Democratic victory.

“No one had any interest or appetite in anything related to Donald Trump. It was a harbinger of things to come,” Kelly told her viewers.

“Then they showed up and voted last night, and said the same to him: ‘We’re no longer interested in the Trump show. We’re over the antics, the grift, the making money off the backs of the American people who just wanted you to help them,’” Kelly said.

She went on to describe Trump’s presidency as a “missed opportunity.”

“To surround yourself with a field of grifters who want to make money off of the presidency as opposed to serving, being actual public servants in a humble role that was never meant to make someone a millionaire or billionaire.”

“It’s incredibly disheartening, and it’s such a missed opportunity. It’s such a missed opportunity by this president, who had the world at his feet, in his hands, who had so many of us believing in him,” Kelly continued.

Megyn Kelly accused President Donald Trump of harming the Republican Party through greed and an inner circle of “grifters” after the midterm losses

“No one had any interest or appetite in anything related to Donald Trump. It was a harbinger of things to come,” Kelly told viewers about the president, pictured on Wednesday

Despite her fierce criticism of Trump, Kelly also offered advice to the broader MAGA movement.

“But the Republicans have an opportunity here. I do believe that this is finally the chance for the Republican Party not to abandon MAGA’s core ideals, which are good and important, and which Trump should be credited with bringing before an American public that had refused to listen to him and a political class that refused to listen to working-class people who were suffering. But they need to take the good, discard the bad and find a new way forward.”

“And they’re going to have to find their own new, charismatic, honest and ethical leader. You can’t ride Trump’s coattails anymore. They are nonexistent. He cannot save you.”

Kelly opened her latest episode by discussing Vice President JD Vance’s public claim that the Iran war, a conflict spearheaded by Trump, helped explain why a majority of Americans voted for Democrats.

“You don’t have to take my word for it. Take the word of his own vice president,” Kelly said before reading Vance’s lengthy post on X, which attributed the election results to Trump.

Vance also outlined other reasons for the party’s defeat while urging Republican voters to give the MAGA movement another chance in the future.

“The reason we lost is the war. The president himself said so last night,” he said.

Vance delivered a pointed message to those who supported the Iran war, insisting they accept responsibility for urging the United States to intervene in the Middle East.

Kelly opened her latest episode by citing Vice President JD Vance’s claim that the Iran war, a conflict led by Trump, contributed to the Democratic vote

Soon after Vance’s post appeared, the president’s son, Donald Trump Jr, also joined the criticism of his father

“If you’d like to argue that it was worth it, that losing the Senate for the next six years was worth it, then do so,” he said.

“Argue that it was a worthwhile cost to pay. Agree or disagree, that’s at least honest.”

Vance posted his election reaction shortly before arriving at the White House in his motorcade for private meetings.

The president withdrew to the White House for private policy meetings, with no public events scheduled overnight on Wednesday. By early afternoon, however, he summoned reporters to the ballroom.

Not long after Vance published his message, the president’s eldest son, Donald Trump Jr, added his own criticism of his father.

Trump Jr responded to Vance’s post by writing, “every word of this is…” followed by three hundred-point emojis.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, another prominent Trump ally, also launched a blistering attack on the president after Election Day.

DeSantis described the midterm results as “close to an extinction-level event for Republicans in many parts of the country.” He highlighted Democratic victories in the Texas governor’s and Senate races, calling the state “the crown jewel of Republican politics.”

James Talarico won the state’s Senate race, becoming the first Democrat to do so since 1988. Gina Hinojosa was also elected governor of the Lone Star State and will replace Greg Abbott beginning next year.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, another prominent Trump ally, also delivered a blistering assessment of the president after Election Day

“Let’s just be clear: that is going to hurt. Not just for the next two years, but in a way that could reverberate for the next decade or more,” he said at a press conference in Tallahassee on Wednesday.

“And if the Republican Party doesn’t have Texas as an anchor, then we are not going to be viable nationally going forward.”

DeSantis had criticized the administration before the results were announced, warning during a podcast interview that Republicans who refused to acknowledge the Iran war had pushed gas prices higher were “gaslighting” voters.

“Gas is higher. It hurts working-class people, and it’s higher because of this conflict. That’s just a fact. If you can’t admit that to voters, then you’re gaslighting them, and they’re not going to listen to you on other things,” DeSantis told Stephen A. Smith.

He called the war a “big drag” on the Republican Party and said it might not have become an issue had it ended as quickly as the Venezuela operation.

Ballots continue to be counted and processed across California, with several closely watched statewide propositions still undecided. The final results are scheduled to be certified on December 11.

For the latest election developments, follow the live blog covering the Los Angeles mayoral race between Karen Bass and Nithya Raman, and check back regularly for updated vote totals.

Here is the latest status of California’s propositions:

Prop 40: California Billionaires Wealth Tax

The measure would levy a one-time 5% tax on California residents whose wealth exceeds $1 billion, with most of the resulting revenue directed toward healthcare programs.

Prop 40 would not directly affect most Californians. Supporters say it could raise tens of billions of dollars for public services, while critics argue the tax could push wealthy residents and their businesses out of the state.

“No” votes currently lead with 55.59%, compared with 44.41% for “Yes,” leaving the proposal on track for defeat.

• Status: Headed for defeat

Prop 3: Permanent Funding for Schools and Healthcare

This proposal would extend California’s existing income-tax surcharge on high earners beyond its scheduled expiration in 2031, providing continued funding for education and healthcare initiatives.

The surcharge applies to individual incomes above $371,000 and joint incomes above $743,000. Revenue would support public schools and community colleges.

The additional funds are projected to generate between $5 billion and $15 billion annually for K–12 education and healthcare programs.

Prop 45: Faster Environmental Reviews and Firm Deadlines

The measure would streamline environmental reviews and impose stricter deadlines under the California Environmental Quality Act, or CEQA. It would cover construction, improvement, maintenance, repair and replacement projects, as well as infrastructure such as roads and water systems and new energy development.

Supporters contend the changes would accelerate housing and infrastructure construction. Opponents counter that the proposal could weaken environmental safeguards.

Prop 39: Voter ID Requirement

The proposal would require government-issued identification for in-person voting, additional identifying information on mail-in ballots and a sworn declaration of citizenship. Supporters say the changes would strengthen election security.

CONTINUE READING: Princess Diana Knew During 1 Moment on Her Honeymoon That Her Marriage to King Charles Wasn't Real – NewsFinale

The measure has failed, meaning California’s existing voting rules remain unchanged and voters will not be required to show photo identification at polling places.

Prop 41: Limits on New Taxes and Audits

The proposition would restrict new state taxes whose revenue falls outside California’s spending limit. It would also require audits and additional oversight for programs financed by newly created taxes. In effect, the measure would block taxes designed to bypass the state’s standard spending cap.

• Status: Headed for defeat

Prop 42: Ban on New Personal Property Taxes

The proposal would prohibit new taxes on personal property and certain retroactive tax increases. It is intended to limit implementation of the proposed wealth tax. If both measures pass, the proposition receiving more votes would take precedence.

• Status: Headed for approval

Prop 43: Two-Thirds Vote for Local Special Taxes

This measure would raise the threshold for approving local special tax proposals from a simple majority to two-thirds of voters, making local tax increases more difficult to pass.

• Status: Headed for defeat

Prop 1: Bonds for Affordable Housing Programs

The proposition would authorize $11.25 billion in state bonds for affordable housing. The money could be used to build, rehabilitate and preserve housing, as well as support homeownership assistance programs for veterans.

Prop 37: Homebuyer Loan Program

The measure would create a loan program for middle-income buyers purchasing qualifying new homes. Participants could put down as little as 3%, rather than the conventional 20% down payment.

Prop 38: Bonds for Immunology Medical Research

The proposal would authorize $8.4 billion in state bonds for biomedical research into immune-based treatments for serious illnesses, including cancer, Alzheimer’s disease and heart disease.

• Status: Headed for approval

Prop 44: Spending Requirements for Community Health Clinics

The measure would require federally qualified health centers to devote at least 90% of their revenue to patient care and related services. Clinics that fail to meet the requirement could be fined, with the money redirected to workforce training.

Prop 2: Expands California’s Rainy Day Fund

This proposal would increase the state’s budget reserve deposit cap from the current 10% to 20% of General Fund revenue. It would also allow limited use of the reserve to reduce unemployment insurance debt.

Prop 4: Public Campaign Financing

The measure would repeal a ban on state and local governments financing election campaigns, allowing them to create publicly funded campaign systems for candidates.

• Status: Headed for defeat

Prop 5: Changes to Recall Election Rules

The proposal would fill vacancies created by successful recalls through a special election, ending automatic replacement elections. The office would remain vacant until that separate election, and recalled officials would be allowed to run again.

• Status: Split, with a slight tip toward approval

New Hampshire police arrested a 70-year-old poet accused of slapping a Turning Point Action member outside a Laconia elementary school where voters were casting ballots Tuesday.

The Laconia Police Department said officers arrested Stephen Redic around 8 a.m. Wednesday. He faces misdemeanor simple-assault and violation-level disorderly-conduct charges.

“We’re not familiar with him, meaning we’ve had no prior contacts,” Laconia Police Chief Matthew Canfield told News Media on Wednesday.

A still from cellphone video shows an argument involving Stephen Redic, whom police identified as 70, before he allegedly slapped a Turning Point Action volunteer outside a New Hampshire elementary school Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026. (Courtesy of Asher Vesey)

According to a Laconia police news release, Redic approached the Turning Point tent while leaving and said he wanted “to read a poem about rich people.” The poem does not appear in the viral video, which shows the volunteer attempting to debate Redic as the older man raises his voice and becomes increasingly angry.

In the footage, the agitated man shouts at the volunteer, raises his middle finger, slaps him across the face and walks away.

A still from cellphone video shows Stephen Redic, whom police identified as 70, arguing with a Turning Point Action volunteer before allegedly assaulting him outside a New Hampshire elementary school Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026. (Courtesy of Asher Vesey)

“You sit there and dare to look me in the face and say I don’t know anything?” Redic says in the video, his voice becoming hoarse as he points a finger in the volunteer’s face.

“That’s what I know,” he says before backhanding the volunteer.

Moments later, Redic says, “f— that s—,” as he walks away. People off-camera can be heard discussing whether to call police.

MORE ON THIS: Pompeo blasts Biden admin for making 'same mistake' as Obama on settlements in Jewish biblical region – NewsFinale

The incident prompted audible surprise from bystanders.

Turning Point identified the volunteer as 18 years old.

Stephen Redic appears in a booking photo taken by the Laconia Police Department in New Hampshire on Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2026. He faces misdemeanor assault and disorderly-conduct charges after a viral video appears to show him slapping a Turning Point Action member. (Laconia Police Department)

Redic published a poetry collection titled “Tying My Shoes” in 2023. In the book, he claimed to have met every U.S. president since Dwight D. Eisenhower.

His arraignment is scheduled for Dec. 10.

It was not immediately known Wednesday afternoon whether Redic had retained an attorney. He did not immediately respond to an effort to contact him.

The incident occurred 14 months after Charlie Kirk was assassinated at Utah Valley University beneath a similar tent. Kirk founded Turning Point USA and its affiliate, Turning Point Action.

Late Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk was known for confronting ideological opponents at his “Prove Me Wrong” events. (USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect)

Tyler Robinson, who is accused of killing Kirk, is scheduled to appear in court Monday for a hearing that could result in a trial date being set. Robinson has pleaded not guilty.

“You brutalized Hispanic voters in a way I personally warned would destroy you politically. I told you that. I warned you,” MS NOW host Joe Scarborough said angrily on Wednesday morning, sounding like a man who had not been invited to anchor the network’s prime-time election coverage.

“For the people in the White House watching right now, that is the price of ICE,” he declared, offering his own explanation for the Republican midterm losses in Texas, where the party surrendered a Senate seat and the governor’s mansion in one of its worst nights in the state in decades.

That was quite a lecture from Scarborough, who had previously insisted that a declining Joe Biden was “beyond cogent… better than he’s ever been, intellectually, analytically.”

One consequence of losing an election is having to endure a chorus of commentators insisting they saw the result coming all along.

There is little doubt that President Donald Trump and several of his handpicked congressional candidates had political vulnerabilities. That, however, did not make it any easier to watch the exuberant reaction from liberal commentators as the Democrats’ so-called Blue Tsunami rolled in.

Even before 6 p.m. Eastern time, the president had become increasingly agitated, firing off messages to Fox News host Greg Gutfeld while Gutfeld was live on air.

“Greg, tell [Jessica] Tarlov, who is the worst—and worst is in capitals—gas prices are lower than they were for Biden and Obama, and they allowed Iran to have the nuclear bomb,” Gutfeld read from his phone on The Five.

Trump was also battling the Fox News poll online. “The Fox News Poll, always the worst, is so insulting with the questions they ask. Every question is a hit job, and every answer is ‘BULLS**!’ This has been going on for years,” he wrote at 6:36 p.m.

“I warned you,” said MS NOW’s Joe Scarborough on Wednesday morning, with the intensity of someone who had not been asked to host the network’s prime-time election coverage

Before 6 p.m. Eastern time, the president was already visibly frustrated, messaging Fox News host Greg Gutfeld as he appeared live on air

It was shaping up to be a long night.

On CNN, the network’s chief defender of Joe Biden, Jake Tapper, stumbled early by describing Trump’s signature tax proposal as “no tax on tits.”

Whatever the intended wording, the mistake did little to inspire confidence in the night’s coverage.

Tapper soon appeared increasingly animated as he examined the first substantial vote totals to emerge.

Republican-held seats in deeply conservative Indiana and Kentucky began trending toward the Democrats, and Tapper’s excitement was becoming difficult to miss.

The MS NOW panel, led by Rachel Maddow, was similarly tense as the early results came in.

Could American voters really have delivered a setback to the Republican Party? And if so, what would the result mean for commentators who had spent years warning about Trump’s political influence?

Shortly after 7 p.m., that possibility appeared increasingly real.

News networks called the Georgia Senate race for Jon Ossoff. CNN’s Kasie Hunt could barely contain her enthusiasm. “The Ossoff for President campaign starts tonight, basically,” she said.

From there, Republican losses began accumulating quickly.

At 8:10 p.m., Democrats won Florida House seats in districts that had been drawn to give Republicans a structural advantage.

Tapper began using the phrase “blue-nami.” He was visibly energized, and the excitement reflected more than one high-profile Democratic victory.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: Montana Resident Admits Guilt for Breeding Large Hybrid Sheep and Selling them for Enclosed Hunts: Justice Department – NewsFinale

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott appeared vulnerable. Democrats were leading in dozens of Republican-held House districts. Susan Collins was trailing in Maine, Kansas was competitive, and Republicans were showing little strength in the Senate contests they needed to retain control of the upper chamber.

Back on CNN, Van Jones predicted what he called a “revenge of voters of color.”

The night’s television analysis repeatedly focused on the demographic divisions shaping the election.

At 9 p.m., Republicans received one of the evening’s few major pieces of good news.

Former Congressman Byron Donalds was declared the winner of Florida’s gubernatorial election, succeeding Ron DeSantis and becoming the first elected Black Republican governor in the state’s history. Yet the significance of the result received limited attention from some commentators.

At MS NOW, figures including Symone Sanders-Townsend were instead celebrating Democrat Keisha Lance Bottoms’ victory in the Georgia governor’s race.

The MS NOW panel, led by Rachel Maddow, remained visibly tense as the results continued to move toward the Democrats

“Symone, your political analysis of this race has been perfect, but how does it feel? How does this feel?” asked Lawrence O’Donnell.

Sanders-Townsend appeared emotional as she dabbed her eyes with a tissue offered by Maddow.

“I’m over here about to cry, Lord,” she said. “After the 2024 presidential election, I myself, but Black women all over the country, it felt like a repudiation of us.”

Donalds’ victory in Florida received considerably less attention during the discussion.

“As you say in my community, all kinfolk ain’t skinfolk,” Sanders-Townsend said.

The remark underscored how sharply the panel framed the evening through the lens of race and representation.

Donalds also faced an ugly online episode. Shortly after his victory, his Wikipedia page was altered to describe him as “the first openly gay man to serve as governor,” despite his marriage to Erika Donalds.

As the night continued, Republican losses mounted and Democratic commentators became increasingly celebratory.

“I’m happy, happy, happy! I’m so happy!” Jones said, grinning broadly.

“This is like Christmas, and a birthday and the Easter Bunny and Halloween,” he said, before comparing the result to the Jonestown cult massacre. “This is Jonestown for the Republican Party. They drank the Kool-Aid and they have candidates that are dropping like flies across the country.”

“I’m happy, happy, happy! I’m so happy!” Van Jones said, grinning broadly

The comparison was striking enough to prompt even former Obama adviser David Axelrod to ask Jones what was in his coffee mug.

At 9:30 p.m., CNN called the North Carolina Senate race for Democrat Roy Cooper. An hour later, Lindsey Graham’s sister was declared the loser in South Carolina. By 10 p.m., the House had been projected for the Democrats, and the outcome was effectively sealed.

Trump and his allies suffered a decisive defeat, and the reasons were not difficult to identify. A combination of an apparently unending foreign war and high gas prices helped push Democratic voters into traditionally Republican territory.

What happens next remains uncertain. But if Democrats interpret the victory as a mandate for sweeping change, the political mood could look very different two years from now. The same commentators celebrating on election night may then be the ones explaining a Republican comeback.

The father of a nurse who was allegedly killed by her federal agent boyfriend in a Bronx murder-suicide heard the gunshots while speaking with his daughter by phone Tuesday night, police and sources said.

Andrea Cantarini, 37, was on the phone with her father when her boyfriend, Juan Cornelio Diaz, 38, allegedly shot her in the head inside her Blackstone Avenue apartment in Riverdale at about 9 p.m., according to the NYPD. Diaz worked as a US Customs and Border Protection officer assigned to JFK Airport.

Diaz was later discovered at the apartment with a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head, police said.

Investigators believe the deadly violence followed a domestic dispute.

MUST READ: ‘She’s Definitely a Hero’: 85-Year-Old Woman Kills Burglar Who Put Gun to Her Head – NewsFinale

This is a developing story. Check back for additional updates.

If you or someone you know is affected by the issues discussed in this story, call or text 988 to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, or text HOME to 741741 to connect with the Crisis Text Line.

If you are experiencing suicidal thoughts or are concerned about someone else, call or text 988 for free, confidential support available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.