US President Donald Trump has congratulated Democrats on their victories in the 2026 midterm elections but dismissed suggestions that the results amount to a rejection of his leadership.
Trump made the remarks after Democrats recorded major gains in traditionally Republican strongholds, including Texas, Ohio and South Carolina, defeating Republican candidates in key Senate races.
The opposition party also made significant gains in the House of Representatives, flipping several Republican-held seats and moving closer to securing control of both chambers of Congress.
Reacting to the results, Trump acknowledged the Democrats’ efforts but insisted that their performance should not be seen as a personal setback.
“Congratulations to the Democrats. They did a good job. 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,” he said.
The president also defended his administration’s record, describing its first two years in office as an unprecedented period of achievement.
“I think we’ve done … We’ve had the greatest two years in the history of the presidency,” Trump added.
The Democratic gains have been linked to voter dissatisfaction over the economy, rising living costs and Trump’s decision to launch military action against Iran in February, which contributed to a sharp increase in petrol prices.
Exit polls conducted for a consortium of US media organisations indicated that half of voters viewed the midterm elections as an opportunity to rebuke Trump, while three-quarters expressed anger or dissatisfaction with the direction of the country.
The results pose a political challenge for Trump, whose Republican Party entered the elections controlling both chambers of Congress.
Meanwhile, Trump has signalled his readiness for a potentially difficult relationship with a Democratic-controlled Congress.
In an interview with Fox News presenter Bret Baier, the president vowed to use his constitutional veto powers to block legislation he considers unacceptable.
“They’ll send over things that are insane and I’ll veto them,” Trump said, adding that he was prepared to reject bills until both parties reached common ground.
Under the US Constitution, a president can veto legislation passed by Congress. However, lawmakers can override a presidential veto with a two-thirds majority in both the House of Representatives and the Senate.
Trump’s remarks suggest he is preparing for possible legislative confrontations with Democrats while defending his administration’s record during the remainder of his presidency.
