English
English
English
Trump threatens veto showdown if Democrats capture Congress (Img: White House)
Washington: United States President Donald Trump has warned that he would use his veto powers to block legislation passed by Democrats if the opposition party takes control of either chamber of Congress following the midterm elections.
In an exclusive phone interview with CBS News before polling concluded on Tuesday, Trump said he remained confident of protecting his administration's agenda, even if Republicans lost their majority in the House of Representatives or the Senate.
“I have the ultimate power, it’s called ‘veto,’" Trump said, adding that he would not mind being called “Mr. Veto" if Democrats gained control of either chamber.
Despite predictions of Republican setbacks, including polls suggesting the party could lose the House, Trump remained optimistic about the GOP's chances and insisted that his administration would retain considerable scope to pursue its policies.
Trump also referred to recent Supreme Court decisions that he believes have strengthened executive authority, arguing that the rulings would give him greater control over federal agencies even if Congress came under Democratic control.
Also Read: US Midterms 2026: Democrats Make Early Gains In Key Races As Trump Faces Tough Night
He specifically cited the Supreme Court's 6-3 ruling in Trump v. Slaughter, which allowed him to remove Rebecca Slaughter from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).
“We won the Slaughter case, and the Slaughter case gives the president tremendous powers that it never had before," Trump said.
The president suggested that the ruling could provide a basis for further executive action in different areas of governance.
“The presidency, our presidency, is considered a strong presidency. You can do a lot," Trump told CBS News.
Trump also argued that repeated use of his veto powers could eventually bring Democrats to the negotiating table rather than lead to a prolonged political confrontation.
“Historically, you veto for a couple of months, and then they come and say, ‘We’ve got to make a deal,’" he said.
His remarks indicate the possibility of a difficult relationship between the White House and Congress if Democrats secure control of either or both chambers. Trump also suggested he could rely more heavily on executive authority if lawmakers attempted to restrict his administration's policies.
According to CBS News sources, the White House has been discussing additional executive actions in recent weeks. Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller and Office of Management and Budget Director Russell Vought have reportedly played key roles in these deliberations.
Also Read: US Midterms 2026: Indian Origin NASA Astronaut Anil Menon Casts Vote From Space
Trump, meanwhile, claimed that the political mood had shifted in favour of Republicans in the run-up to Election Day.
“If you remember, about 30, 40 days ago, people were saying it’s going to be a big loss, and now people are talking about, like we could even win it," Trump said.
He credited his campaign appearances with building momentum for Republican candidates.
“I think the tour made a big difference. I did 29 days, 33 of these things, and they were all massive rallies, they were big rallies. No one has ever done anything like it. And I think we got the word out. I think we got the enthusiasm out, too," he added.
Explaining his extensive campaigning, Trump said he wanted to ensure that his administration's achievements were not undermined.
“I just think that we’re doing so well that I didn’t want to see anything get in the way of what we’ve done," he said.
He also credited last year's One Big Beautiful Bill Act and his administration's trade policies for what he described as economic progress across several sectors.
Also Read: US Midterms: Can MAGA Republicans Block Democrats From Taking House Seats?
However, Trump stopped short of predicting a Republican victory, acknowledging that the outcome remained uncertain.
“We’ll have to see," he said, adding, “Will we win? We have a good chance. But we’re not going to be embarrassed," he said.
Meanwhile, Democrats secured important victories in Senate races in Georgia and Virginia.
In Georgia, incumbent Jon Ossoff retained his seat, according to media projections. Ossoff has also been mentioned as a potential contender in the 2028 presidential race.
His victory provides a boost to Democrats, although it does not change the existing balance of power in the 100-member Senate.
In Virginia, Democrat Mark Warner also won re-election to the Senate, according to projections.
