Trump cites weak candidates in post-election remarks

President Donald Trump attributed the Democratic victories in the House and Senate on Tuesday to the performance of his party’s candidates, rather than his own record in office. He made the remarks during a series of media appearances on the night of the election, challenging the emerging consensus that voters had rejected his administration’s direction.

In a live phone interview with Fox News, Trump stated that he did not view the results as a direct setback for him. He argued that the past two years represented the strongest period in presidential history regarding the economy. "But I don’t view it as a hit on me," he said. "We’ve had the greatest two years in the history of the presidency in terms of the economy, in terms of all the things that we’ve done."

The president identified the candidates as the primary source of the losses, suggesting they failed to energize the electorate. He noted that he was not on the ballot, a point he raised repeatedly during the month-long campaign season. "They just didn’t inspire the people to get out and vote," he told Fox. "And I wasn’t on the ballot. If I was on the ballot, they would have got out."

Several of the defeated Republican nominees, including North Carolina’s Michael Whatley, South Carolina’s Darline Graham, Texas’s Ken Paxton, and Georgia’s Mike Collins, were selected with Trump’s explicit support. He acknowledged his role in choosing them, specifically citing his endorsement of Paxton in Texas over incumbent Senator John Cornyn. "I had no choice," Trump said regarding Paxton. "When it wasn’t fashionable, he kissed my ass."

The president also pointed to media coverage as a factor, claiming Democrats received favorable treatment on Fox News. He described the outcome as a "little surprise" and a result of a "mood in the air." On Truth Social, he announced he would analyze the reasons for the wins and losses, calling Texas Governor Greg Abbott, who lost re-election to Democrat Gina Hinojosa, a "Republican in name only."

Despite the shift in congressional power, Trump insisted his governing agenda would proceed without major changes. He expressed a willingness to work with the new Democratic majority, stating that he has already spoken to several Democratic friends. He also maintained that he had no regrets regarding the Iran war, which began eight months ago. "I did the right thing," he told the Wall Street Journal. "I would have done it again."

The election results concluded a campaign season in which Trump flew to multiple red states on Air Force One to encourage turnout. The next step in the process involves the formal certification of the results in both chambers of Congress, where the new Democratic leadership will take control of legislative scheduling.