After a tough Election Day for Republicans, President Donald Trump congratulated Democrats and said he was ready to work with them for the country’s benefit.
Democrats were projected to take control of both the House and Senate. Earlier in the day, Trump had warned he would veto their legislation if Republicans lost power. But after the results came in, he took a more conciliatory tone, telling CBS News he hoped to work with Democratic lawmakers.
Trump added that Democrats would likely want to reach agreements with him, since otherwise he could block their bills. He had previously described the veto as a powerful tool for advancing his agenda, saying he believed sustained vetoes could eventually bring both sides to the negotiating table.
Republicans lost several closely watched races. Trump said his absence from the ballot was one factor in the outcome, and suggested that some voters had reservations about Republican candidates. He also said some candidates were not people he supported, and that the party’s base had noticed.
Speaking to Fox News later that evening, Trump again said he planned to veto legislation he considered unreasonable. He predicted that after a period of vetoes, Democrats would seek a way to work with him, and said he had already spoken with some Democratic friends.
