Democrats Seize Control of Congress, Trump Faces New Political Landscape

Following the United States midterm election results on Tuesday night, President Donald Trump received a call from Politico. The Democratic Party achieved a significant victory, unseating the Republican Party and resulting in Donald Trump's Republican Party losing control of both chambers of Congress for the first time during his presidency. In a phone interview, Trump expressed a willingness to collaborate with Democrats, stating, ". They’ve already called, and they want to work with me. I have the right to veto everything, but I don’t want to be just sitting there for two years just vetoing everything.".

While a few seats are still to be finalized, Democrats have secured substantial majorities in both the House of Representatives, with at least 253 out of 435 seats, and the Senate, with at least 54 out of 100 seats. Trump subsequently shared an image on his Truth Social account featuring a 'VETO' hat, referencing his Make America Great Again merchandise.

Despite the Democratic successes, President Trump retains significant executive authority. Article 1, Section 7 of the US Constitution grants the president the power to veto legislation passed by Congress. Overriding a presidential veto requires a two-thirds majority in both chambers, a threshold the Democrats have not met. Trump's remarks to Politico suggest a potential strategy of selectively vetoing legislation while also engaging in bipartisan negotiations.

Currently, President Trump has three primary options: vetoing legislation, issuing executive orders, or negotiating deals. Since his inauguration in January 2025, Trump has issued 292 executive orders, with 67 in the current year and 225 in the previous year, according to the Federal Register. However, Andrew Proctor, a lecturer in US politics at University College London, suggests that Trump's leverage has diminished with the new congressional makeup. Proctor anticipates considerable gridlock, with Democrats aiming to pass policies that Trump may veto, given their inability to override his vetoes. He expressed skepticism about Trump's willingness to cooperate, citing past behavior.

Nevertheless, some Democrats have indicated a readiness to work with the president on key campaign initiatives. Michigan's Abdul El-Sayed, the first Muslim elected to the US Senate, stated his willingness to collaborate with Trump on issues such as campaign finance reform, economic policies, and Medicare for All, despite past campaign rhetoric. Senator Bernie Sanders has also suggested that Trump might support a Medicare for All bill if passed by Congress, characterizing Trump as a pragmatic rather than ideological politician. Proctor believes Trump might engage in deals that enhance his public image, though passing Medicare for All appears improbable. He suggested that common ground might be found in healthcare by rolling back certain subsidies from previous Trump legislation to make healthcare more affordable.

Proctor recalled that some Republicans in 2025 had expressed openness to negotiating healthcare reforms with Democrats, a prospect that did not materialize but could still be a potential area for bipartisan action on healthcare-specific policies. However, he views a broader debate on Medicare for All as unlikely in the near future.

While Trump has indicated a willingness to use the veto, his historical usage is relatively moderate compared to some predecessors. He has used the veto twice in his current term and 10 times in his first term. For comparison, Joe Biden used it 12 times in his single term, Barack Obama 12 times over two terms, Bill Clinton 37 times, George HW Bush 44 times, and Ronald Reagan 78 times.

Proctor also highlighted the filibuster as a tool Senate Republicans could employ to obstruct legislation, potentially preventing bills from reaching President Trump's desk for a veto. This tactic, he noted, was used against former President Barack Obama. He stated, "This is what they did to [former President Barack] Obama. Senate Republicans will probably try to do the same thing, and it also means that we don’t even get to the point of Trump having the power to veto because the legislation never reaches him in the first place.".

Following the midterm elections, calls for investigations into the Trump administration have surfaced. During his first term, Trump was impeached twice. US Representative Robert Garcia, expected to chair the House Oversight Committee, posted on X, "LAWYER UP." Senator Ron Wyden, poised to lead the Senate Finance Committee, tweeted, "Subpoenas." The Trump administration has denied any wrongdoing, with White House spokesperson Lauren Bis stating, "If Democrats choose to pursue sham investigations and radical left policies, they are choosing to work against the American people." Reports also suggest potential impeachment proceedings against Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth concerning the Iran war, which some Republicans have linked to the party's electoral losses.