Donald Trump said Friday he would veto every piece of legislation sent to his desk if Democrats seize control of the House or Senate in next month's midterm elections, framing repeated vetoes as a pressure tactic rather than a sign of defeat. Speaking to reporters before departing for a campaign rally, Trump argued that gridlock would ultimately force Democrats back to the negotiating table on his terms.
“But if there was, you call it gridlock, what happens is I veto everything,” Trump told reporters, according to gazette.com, which reported he threatened to veto every bill put forward during the second half of his administration if either chamber flips. He described the strategy bluntly: “you veto, veto, veto, and then they come and they say, how do we get it done? And you make a deal.”
The remarks came on the White House South Lawn, where Trump spoke before leaving for a campaign rally in Florida, as India Tribune reported. According to the same account, Trump had initially discussed Iran with reporters before turning to the possibility that Republicans could lose congressional control. He was responding to a question about whether two years of legislative gridlock would damage the U.S. economy, per The Statesman.
Trump Predicts a GOP Win Despite Grim Polling
Despite the warning, Trump said he still expects his party to prevail next month. “I think the Republicans are going to win,” he said, as reported by the Washington Examiner. He also said he and Democrats would ultimately find common ground regardless of who controls Congress, telling reporters, “So, we'll work it out,” per the Statesman's report.
That confidence runs against a wave of polling suggesting Democrats are favored to retake at least the House. The gazette.com report noted that historical precedent and polling data suggest Democrats are on the cusp of flipping the House next month and possibly the Senate, and that several election forecasters have updated their predictions in favor of Democrats crossing the 218-seat threshold needed for a majority.
Polls Show Democrats With a Wide Edge
NBC News polling found that 52% of likely voters prefer Democratic control of the House compared with 43% who prefer Republicans, a gap the network's polling average also put at nine points. The same NBC News analysis estimated that a 10.5-point national shift toward Democrats could produce a 238-seat Democratic majority, while a scenario in which polling overstates Democratic support would still yield a narrower 220-215 Democratic edge. Holding the House, the outlet projected, would require Republicans to erase roughly 4.5 points of that gap nationally or rely on strong individual candidate performances.
A separate New York Times/Siena poll found just 36% of likely voters approve of Trump's job performance, while 59% disapprove — numbers that track closely with NBC News' own polling average showing a 39% approval rating against 59% disapproval. The Times/Siena survey also found likely voters preferred Democratic congressional candidates over Republicans by 11 percentage points, with three-quarters of respondents rating the economy as fair or poor.
NBC News' polling additionally found independent voters giving Democrats a 16-point lead in the race for Congress, even as Trump's approval among Republicans remained strong at 79% compared with just 26% among independents. NBC News has pointed to districts such as Pennsylvania's 10th, Virginia's 1st, Ohio's 9th, Florida's 14th and Texas's 28th as the battlegrounds where control of the chamber is likely to be decided.
Trump Keeps Up a Packed Campaign Schedule
Trump has continued an intensive campaign push aimed at shoring up Republican prospects before Election Day, according to India Tribune's account. He pointed to recent campaigning in Iowa and said upcoming stops in Florida and Michigan would follow, arguing his appearances are drawing large crowds and boosting candidates in several states.
He acknowledged that some Republican Senate candidates face difficult contests but maintained that enthusiasm among GOP voters remains strong, the outlet reported. Trump also rejected any suggestion that his frequent campaign appearances could trigger a political backlash, saying he intends to keep campaigning through the final stretch before voters head to the polls.
