President Donald Trump spent Thursday, November 5, 2026, adjusting to a transformed political landscape after Democrats swept both chambers of Congress in Tuesday's midterm elections, ending the Republican trifecta in Washington.
Democrats won at least 54 Senate seats and at least 250 seats in the House of Representatives, according to tallies compiled by Reuters and CNBC, flipping seven Senate seats and more than 30 House seats. It is the first time in Trump's two presidencies that he faces a Congress fully controlled by Democrats, with the new majority taking office in January.
In a telephone interview with Fox News, Trump offered rare praise for his rivals, saying, "Congratulations to the Democrats. They did a good job." He also acknowledged that the war with Iran had contributed to the Republican defeat, saying a part of it was Iran. Vice President JD Vance went further on Wednesday, writing on social media that the Iran war was "the reason we lost" — a public break with the president ahead of a possible 2028 White House run. Trump later said Vance was "largely right" and added that he would do it again, insisting Iran must not be allowed to have nuclear weapons.
With Republicans still holding Congress until January, Trump called on them to secure one last legislative win: passing the Sunshine Protection Act to make daylight saving time permanent and end the twice-yearly clock changes. "I didn't want to make a big deal out of this prior to the Election because I didn't want to have certain Senators lose their Race, in a landslide, but it is too bad they can't get it done," the president said in a statement as darkness fell on November 5. He dubbed the measure the "I Don't Want to Change My Clocks Anymore Act."
Trump's first public appearance since the election came on Wednesday, when he showed reporters the $400 million ballroom under construction at the White House, discussing its marble and Corinthian columns. He also backed Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth amid questions about his future, telling reporters, "No, I think he's doing a very good job."
Meanwhile, Trump's lawyers were due before a New York appeals court on Thursday to argue for throwing out his hush money conviction, two years after the May 2024 verdict on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records tied to a $130,000 payment to adult film performer Stormy Daniels. Trump was not expected to attend. He denies any wrongdoing.
Democrats, for their part, vowed to use their new majority to investigate the Trump administration and focus on affordability. House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries said the incoming majority would be focused on affordability and accountability. House Speaker Mike Johnson confirmed he will step down as Republican leader after the party's defeat.
First Lady Melania Trump was set to host officials from Moscow and Kyiv at the White House on Thursday ahead of talks in Abu Dhabi aimed at ending the Ukraine war. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has also awarded her the Order of Princess Olga for her role in the Oleshky truce.
Sources: USA Today, Reuters, Associated Press, The Hindu, Philstar, Free Malaysia Today
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