By Basant El-Faramawy
Donald Trump faced a crushing defeat in the 2026 midterm elections, prompting his spokesman to issue a public reminder that he remains president for the next two years. As Democrats handed Republicans significant losses, White House Communications Director Steven Cheung posted on X: "Donald J. Trump is the President of the United States. Still your President!"
White House Response Draws Mockery
Cheung's statement was met with widespread ridicule on social media, where users labeled Trump a "lame duck" president. One commenter wrote, "Lame duck president for the next 2 years," while another said, "Steven demonstrating exactly why MAGA died tonight." Critics argued the post could not spin the scale of the Republican loss.
Democrats Poised to Control Congress
Democrats are set to take control of Congress after key Senate victories. Winners included James Talarico in Texas, Roy Cooper in North Carolina, Annie Andrews in South Carolina, Josh Turek in Iowa, Adam Hamilton in Kansas, and Sherrod Brown in Ohio.
Trump Admits Democratic Success
In a surprising admission to Fox News, Trump acknowledged the Democratic effort: "I think the Democrats did a good job; I really do. They fought hard. They were, you know, they've been fighting for a long time. They've been fighting me for a long time."
Blame Shifts to Absent Voters
Earlier on Truth Social, Trump claimed Republicans lost because he was not on the ballot, despite urging supporters to vote for GOP candidates as if he were. Katie Miller, wife of White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller, blamed busy mothers for low turnout, admitting she herself did not vote.
Veto Power and Policy Stance
Trump signaled willingness to work with Democrats on some issues but ruled out compromise on immigration or transgender policies. "The power of veto is one of the stronger powers that a president has, and they'll send over things that are insane, and I'll veto them," he said during his election night interview.
