WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump has sought to distance himself from the Republican Party’s sweeping midterm losses, blaming defeated candidates and campaign shortcomings while insisting the results were not a judgment on his presidency.
In a phone interview with Fox News broadcast early Wednesday, Trump acknowledged that Democrats had run effective campaigns but argued that Republican candidates had failed to secure enough support.
“The Democrats did a good job. They fought hard,” he said.
Asked whether the results represented a setback for him, Trump replied: “I don’t view it as a hit on me. We’ve had the greatest two years in the history of the presidency.”
Shifting Blame
Several candidates backed by Trump lost races in states he had carried comfortably in the 2024 presidential election.
Rather than acknowledge voter dissatisfaction with his administration, Trump pointed to the candidates themselves and their failure to mobilise supporters.
In an interview with The New York Times, he argued that his absence from the ballot had contributed to the Republican losses.
“I wasn’t on the ticket, and because I wasn’t on the ticket, we couldn’t get enough people out to vote,” he said.
Trump also claimed on Truth Social that Republicans would have won in a “landslide” if he had been a candidate.
White House officials similarly sought to shift responsibility towards individual nominees, arguing that candidate quality and campaign strategy had played a decisive role. One official said Trump had done more to promote some candidates than they had done for themselves.
Voter Discontent
The president’s explanation contrasts with voter concerns highlighted in the Associated Press Voter Poll, which found that many Americans blamed his administration for high living costs and wanted Congress to impose stronger checks on his power.
The economy, rising prices and the war with Iran were among the issues weighing on voters.
The Democratic victories have handed the party control of both chambers of Congress, giving it new leverage to scrutinise the administration, challenge its policies and obstruct parts of Trump’s legislative agenda.
Despite the scale of the losses, Trump has maintained that his presidency remains successful, while placing responsibility for the Republican defeat on candidates and campaign performance.
