Trump made the remarks on Wednesday, November 4, 2026, after election results from the November 3 polls showed Democrats had secured majorities in both the Senate and the House of Representatives.
According to Al Jazeera, Trump said the war in Iran contributed to voters’ reluctance to support Republican candidates as expected, largely because of its impact on fuel prices.
“Maybe people were not ready to tolerate the short-term consequences of higher gasoline prices,” he said.
The war has disrupted the economy, particularly through rising oil prices, at a time when Americans were already concerned about the high cost of living.
Trump said that although Democrats had secured control of Congress, he would not allow them to pass legislation he considered inappropriate.
“The Democrats will come up with things that make no sense, and I will reject them,” he said.
The election results showed that Democrats had secured at least 51 seats in the Senate, enough to give them a majority in the chamber.
The party also won control of the House of Representatives, giving it the power to oversee the Trump administration’s activities and significant influence over the legislative process.
In Iowa, Democrat Josh Turek defeated Republican Ashley Hinson, winning a Senate seat previously held by Trump’s party.
In Virginia, Democrat Elaine Luria defeated Republican Jen Kiggans, taking away her seat in the House of Representatives.
Senator Bernie Sanders welcomed the Democrats’ victory, saying the party now had the power to hold Trump accountable for his administration’s actions.
“The Democrats will now control the House and the Senate, and they will be able to hold Trump accountable for what he is doing. That is a good thing,” he said.
Sanders urged his party not to become complacent following the victory, but instead to prioritise protecting the interests of working families and improving their living conditions.
The Democrats’ victory is considered a major setback for Trump, who will now face a Congress controlled by the opposition party during the remaining two years of his presidency.
