Trump Blames Candidates and Fox News for GOP Defeats

President Donald Trump attributed the Republican Party's election losses to its candidates and Fox News, rather than to his own administration, during a 22-minute phone interview conducted late Tuesday night. The interview took place just before midnight, at a moment when Democrats were projected to take control of the House of Representatives. Trump stated that he did not view the results as a rebuke of his presidency.

The president placed the primary responsibility on the party's nominees, arguing that they failed to inspire the MAGA base. He noted that some candidates were chosen for the good of the party even if he did not personally get along with them. Trump said his supporters did not like the candidates, pointing to upsets in Republican strongholds such as South Carolina, Texas, and Kansas where Democrats defeated GOP opponents over the previous 30 days.

In a separate post on Truth Social moments before the interview, Trump accused Fox News of bearing responsibility for the losses by consistently featuring the Democratic opposition. He claimed that his presence on the ballot would have resulted in a landslide victory. During the broadcast, however, his tone shifted from grievance to acceptance as he congratulated Democrats for winning the chamber they had sought for 11 years.

Trump acknowledged that the conflict with Iran likely influenced voter sentiment, specifically regarding higher gas prices. He characterized the economic impact as a short-term problem with long-term gains, asserting that history would judge the Middle East actions as more important than the election results. He also expressed willingness to work with the new Democratic leadership in Congress, despite expecting to use his veto power frequently.

The president said he spoke with five Democrats on Tuesday night, including two senators and three representatives, and noted that three others were expected to call him soon. He described the Democratic effort as strong and said he had many friends in the party. Trump emphasized that he would veto bills he considered insane, predicting that Democrats would eventually return to him to finish their legislative agenda.