After Democrats’ sweeping midterm wins, Donald Trump would like to change the subject
Democrats win across the map
Democrats scored sweeping victories in Tuesday’s midterm elections. They are set to enter 2027 with commanding majorities in both chambers of Congress, ending two years of unified Republican control in Washington, DC.
The results represented a broad repudiation of Trump, the Republican Party and the first two years of Trump’s second administration. Yet the president’s public appearance on Wednesday centered on the East Wing ballroom.
Ballroom remarks dominate appearance
On Wednesday, Trump spoke from inside the partially completed ballroom. He discussed its size, kitchen arrangements and marble flooring, then signed a steel beam. Asked about the midterms and the Iran war, which Vice President JD Vance has blamed for the Republican loss, Trump said, “I think it’s largely true,” and added that he would have to do it again.
What the results could mean
Trump’s response may take several forms in the coming days and when Democrats assume power in January. Vox colleague Astead Herndon described the process on Wednesday as Trump’s “stages of grief.” Tuesday’s elections also opened the possibility of Medicaid expansion in Texas, which could give more than a million low-income residents access to health care. The results may shape the political landscape for the next two years.
Key points
- Democrats won broadly and will hold commanding House and Senate majorities in 2027.
- Trump’s public response focused mainly on the East Wing ballroom.
- A Trump adviser said he likely would not challenge the results, potentially excepting Alaska.
- Democratic victories in Texas could make Medicaid expansion available to more than a million low-income residents.