Democrats win control of U.S. Congress as Trump vows veto and blasts Fox News

Democrats reclaimed control of both chambers of the United States Congress after the midterm elections in which all 435 seats in the House of Representatives and 35 of 100 Senate seats were contested, alongside numerous gubernatorial races. The results were widely described in global media as a sweeping Democratic success.

President Donald Trump spoke to several U.S. outlets, including The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal and Fox News, saying he would accept the election results and offering congratulations to Democrats "for the good job."

Trump stresses veto power but signals willingness to talk

To Fox News he outlined how he intends to respond in practice: "This is one of the most powerful powers a president has," he told Bret Baier. "They will send me crazy proposals, and I will veto them. And after some months of vetoing, they'll ask: 'How do we pass this?' And then we'll start working together."

Trump also highlighted efforts at outreach across the aisle: "You know, I have many friends among the Democrats — believe it or not, I've already spoken with some of them. I had calls from important representatives of the Democratic Party — actually, two senators and three congressmen. And three more are waiting to call me. So, I don't know... Obviously they want to talk, but I have the veto power. And the veto power is, you know, huge," he said.

On his social platform Truth Social the president criticized Fox News, blaming the channel for Republican setbacks and singling out the network's decision to host Bill de Blasio on air: "Why did Fox News invite Bill de Blasio, the worst mayor in the history of New York, on air to pour out nonsense and rage like a lunatic? He left office with a shameful stigma, and the damage he caused is immeasurable." He also pointed to the unexpected loss of Greg Abbott — who ran for a fourth term as Texas governor — to Democrat Gina Hinojosa as an example of the setbacks.

International commentary stressed the scale of the Democratic gains. U.S. outlets variously called the outcome a "blue tsunami" and a sharp rebuke of Trump, noting Democratic pickups in states long considered Republican strongholds. European papers described the results as a major reversal for the president and an opportunity for Democrats to limit the administration's agenda during the remainder of his second term.

Photo: press material from the event