President Donald Trump has congratulated Democrats following their victories in the US midterm elections, saying he is prepared to work with the opposition party on issues affecting the country.
During a telephone interview with CBS News on November 4, Trump said he wanted both parties to find common ground despite their political differences.
“My message is, congratulations to the Democrats, and I look forward to working with you for the good of our country,” he said.
However, Trump also highlighted his constitutional authority to veto legislation, suggesting that the power could influence negotiations with the Democratic-controlled legislature.
Trump Points to Veto Powers in Future Legislative Negotiations
The president said he retained the ability to reject legislation passed by Congress and expected that this would encourage cooperation between the parties.
“I have total veto power and I’m sure we’ll be able to work things out,” Trump said.
He added that he could otherwise veto all legislation, saying Democrats would not want such an outcome.
“Otherwise I’d just veto everything and they’re not gonna want that,” he said.
His comments indicated that he intended to use the presidential veto as leverage during future discussions over legislation.
Trump Blames Republican Losses on His Absence From Ballot
Trump attributed the Republican Party’s election losses largely to the fact that he was not personally seeking election during the midterms.
He argued that his presence on the ballot would have changed the outcome and helped Republican candidates secure more victories.
“I feel that I wasn’t on the ballot, and there was nothing that could be done about that… If I was, we would have won,” he said.
The president also pointed to divisions within the Republican Party, claiming that some candidates had failed to secure the support of the party’s voter base.
Republican Candidates Faced Lack of Support From Party Base
Trump said some Republican candidates were unpopular among party supporters, while others had strained relationships with him.
He argued that voters were aware of these disagreements and that some consequently chose not to participate in the election.
“In some cases they didn’t like the candidates, and in some cases those candidates were not my friend and the base knows that better than anybody,” Trump said.
He added that the lack of support had prompted some Republican voters to “stay back”.
Trump Says He Will Decide When Iran Conflict Ends
During the same telephone interview, Trump also addressed the ongoing conflict involving Iran.
The president asserted that he would determine when the military engagement would come to an end.
“It’ll end when I say it ends,” he said, emphasising his authority over the timeline of the conflict.
