President Donald Trump says he will use his veto authority to reject Democratic legislation if Republicans lose control of Congress in Tuesday’s midterm elections, while White House officials prepare alternative ways to advance his administration’s priorities.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
President Donald Trump said Sunday, Nov. 1, that he would become “Mr. Veto” if Democrats gain control of Congress in Tuesday’s midterm elections, pledging to block legislation he opposes while leaving open the possibility of negotiating agreements with Democratic leaders.
Speaking with New York Post columnist Miranda Devine on her Pod Force One podcast, Trump outlined how he would respond if Republicans lose their congressional majorities, making clear that a Democratic takeover would not prevent him from exercising his presidential authority.
“I guess I’ll become Mr. Veto,” Trump said in an interview excerpt released Sunday. “I’m not going to let them ruin it.”
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The president suggested that Democrats would initially send legislation to his desk only to encounter repeated vetoes, eventually creating pressure for negotiations.
“This wouldn’t be the first time. You’ll have a president, and he won’t have the House or the Senate. They’ll be sending stuff up, you veto it. And eventually after a month or two after getting all vetoed … they come over and you make a deal. I think that probably would happen,” Trump told Devine.
He also expressed confidence that Republicans could maintain control of Congress, saying he hoped the situation would not arise.
The comments come as voters prepare for the Nov. 3 elections, when all 435 House seats and 35 Senate seats are at stake. Republicans currently hold narrow majorities in both chambers, making control of Congress a central issue in the final days of the campaign.
According to Reuters reporting published Sunday, senior administration officials have spent months developing plans to continue implementing Trump’s policies if Democrats gain control of one or both chambers.
The preparations involve identifying executive actions the president could pursue without additional congressional authorization, particularly involving immigration enforcement, trade policy, housing costs and federal spending.
White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller, Office of Management and Budget Director Russell Vought and White House Counsel Will Scharf have reportedly participated in the planning since April.
Three people familiar with the discussions told Reuters that administration lawyers have been examining the legal limits of presidential authority and how potential executive actions could withstand challenges in federal court.
The preparations reflect the possibility of divided government during the final two years of Trump’s presidency, when Democrats could use control of congressional committees to investigate administration decisions and challenge the White House’s legislative priorities.
The administration has also considered ways to continue pursuing its economic and immigration policies through existing federal statutes and previously approved spending.
Potential measures under consideration include tariffs on imported critical minerals and wind turbines, tighter visa requirements for international students and temporary foreign workers, and regulatory changes intended to reduce housing and construction costs.
Officials are also examining federal grant procedures and whether political appointees could exercise greater control over how appropriated funds are distributed.
Such actions would remain subject to applicable federal law and judicial review.
Vought, who oversees the administration’s budget planning, has reportedly focused on identifying policies that could be implemented using funding already authorized by Congress.
White House lawyers have also prepared officials for potential congressional investigations, including requests for documents and testimony.
If Democrats gain control of the House, they would acquire the authority to determine committee leadership, establish investigative priorities and issue subpoenas through appropriate congressional procedures.
Control of the Senate would also affect the confirmation of presidential nominees and the administration’s ability to advance legislation.
Trump’s remarks indicate that he intends to use the veto as a central tool for resisting legislation inconsistent with his administration’s objectives.
Under Article I, Section 7 of the Constitution, the president may reject legislation passed by both chambers of Congress and return it with objections.
Congress can override a presidential veto, but doing so requires a two-thirds vote in both the House and Senate.
That threshold makes it difficult for either party to enact legislation over presidential objections without substantial bipartisan support.
As a result, a Democratic-controlled Congress could pass bills opposed by the White House, but those measures would generally require Trump’s signature or enough support to override his veto before becoming law.
The veto does not allow the president to repeal existing statutes unilaterally, nor does it eliminate Congress’s constitutional authority over appropriations and oversight.
However, presidents can continue exercising executive powers granted by the Constitution and federal law, including certain responsibilities involving foreign policy, immigration enforcement and federal agency administration.
Trump has relied extensively on executive authority since returning to office in January 2025, issuing directives involving border security, trade, federal employment and regulatory policy.
Some of those actions have faced legal challenges over whether the administration exceeded its statutory or constitutional powers.
The White House’s reported preparations suggest that officials anticipate continuing to defend executive actions in court if the political balance in Washington changes.
Trump’s comments also acknowledge that prolonged confrontation between the executive and legislative branches could eventually produce negotiated legislation.
His description of vetoing Democratic bills for a month or two before reaching agreements suggests an approach combining resistance to opposing policies with the possibility of compromises on matters requiring congressional action.
In coverage of the president’s remarks, Forbes reported that Trump repeatedly emphasized his willingness to reject Democratic legislation rather than approve measures he believes would undermine his administration’s work.
The president has used his veto authority during both terms in office, rejecting 10 bills during his first administration and two during his second term through early November 2026.
A shift in congressional control would likely increase the importance of that authority as Democrats pursue legislative priorities that differ from those of the White House.
Republicans have sought to retain their majorities by emphasizing immigration enforcement, tax policies, public safety and economic growth.
Democrats have campaigned on concerns involving affordability, health care, federal spending and oversight of the Trump administration.
The parties also disagree over the administration’s use of executive power and the appropriate role of Congress in determining federal policy.
With the election approaching, Trump has continued campaigning for Republican candidates in competitive states and congressional districts.
His public appearances have emphasized the importance of maintaining Republican control of Congress to preserve the administration’s ability to pass legislation and avoid extended disputes with Democratic lawmakers.
The president’s comments came amid campaign stops in Kansas and Iowa, where Republican candidates were seeking support in closely contested races.
White House spokeswoman Lauren Bis rejected suggestions that the administration was preparing for inevitable Republican losses.
“This administration and commonsense Republicans will continue to secure our borders, restore law and order, putting more money back into the pockets of hard-working Americans, and deliver wins for the American people,” Bis told Reuters.
The White House has publicly maintained that Republicans can retain their congressional majorities, even as officials reportedly develop contingency plans for a different legislative environment.
The outcome of Tuesday’s elections will determine whether Trump continues working with Republican-led chambers or faces a Congress in which Democrats control some or all of the legislative agenda.
If Republicans maintain both majorities, the president would retain a more favorable environment for advancing legislation supported by his party.
If Democrats gain control, they could block Republican proposals, conduct additional oversight and send competing legislation to the White House, where Trump would retain the power to reject it.
The administration’s preparations indicate that Trump would also continue pursuing policies through executive authority where legally available, regardless of the election results.
For now, the president has made his intended response to a Democratic congressional takeover clear: repeated vetoes of legislation he opposes, followed by negotiations if lawmakers seek compromises capable of becoming law.
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