Trump Vows to Become 'Mr. Veto' If Democrats Win Control of Congress
President Donald Trump is warning that he will block legislation from a Democratic-controlled Congress, saying he would "probably become Mr. Veto" if his party loses its majorities in the midterm elections.
Trump made the comments in an interview with Miranda Devine of the New York Post that aired on Fox News on Sunday, just two days before Election Day.
What Trump Said
"I'm not going to let them ruin it," Trump said, adding that he would veto bills passed by a Democratic Congress, according to Forbes.
Still, the president left the door open to compromise. "At some point, we'll probably make deals," he said.
Trump described how he expects things would play out. "This wouldn't be the first time. You'll have a president, and he won't have the House or the Senate," he said, explaining that bills would be sent to him and vetoed until, "eventually after a month or two after getting all vetoed," lawmakers would "come over and you make a deal."
He also expressed confidence that it would not come to that. "Hopefully we don't have to worry about that," he said. Trump has consistently predicted that Republicans will win the midterms.
Days earlier, on Oct. 28, Trump struck a similar tone. "I have a powerful veto," he said. "We can get deals done with a strong veto," according to SBS News.
Polls Show Republicans Facing Headwinds
Trump's comments come as polls show Democrats with a real shot at winning both chambers. Decision Desk HQ projects an 83% chance that Democrats retake the House and a 63% chance they regain the Senate, according to SBS News, and recent polls have fueled talk of a blue wave.
Republicans currently hold a 53-47 majority in the Senate. Democrats would need a net gain of four seats while holding on to all of their own to take control.
Forbes noted that Trump's approval ratings are low and that he has received poor marks on the economy and the war in Iran. Voters have also expressed concerns about rising costs for fuel, groceries and farm supplies.
Trump, for his part, has framed the stakes in stark terms, warning supporters that if Democrats take control, "this country will go to hell," Fox News reported.
A Last-Minute Push in Kansas and Iowa
Trump spent Sunday campaigning in Kansas and Iowa, two traditionally Republican states where Senate races have tightened. The in-person stops were back on after Trump's team had initially announced he would replace them with tele-rallies.
In Salina, Kansas, Trump rallied for Sen. Roger Marshall, who faces Democrat Adam Hamilton in a surprisingly close race. An Emerson College poll from late October showed Hamilton ahead 49% to 45%, while a YouGov survey released Sunday showed a one-point gap, Latin Times reported. Kansas has not elected a Democratic senator since 1932.
"The president is always welcome in Kansas," Hamilton said ahead of the visit, while urging Trump to end what he called "chaotic tariffs."
In Dubuque, Iowa, Trump appeared with Republican Rep. Ashley Hinson, who is locked in a tight race with Democratic state Rep. Josh Turek for the seat left open by Sen. Joni Ernst's retirement.
Governing Without Congress
Trump has dealt with a divided government before. In his first term, Republicans lost the House in the 2018 midterms but kept the Senate.
White House officials have also reportedly planned ways to advance Trump's agenda without congressional approval, including through executive orders, Reuters reported, according to Forbes. Trump has signed 512 executive orders across both of his terms, according to the American Presidency Project, compared with 162 signed by former President Joe Biden during his single term.
Voters will decide which path the country takes when polls close on Tuesday night.
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