Trump Crashes out & Shifts Blame after Dems Crush Maga in Midterms, Fox News Despairs: a Closer Look

-The midterms are over and there was a blue wave or a blue tsunami, or a blue monsoon or a blue "Sharknado." [Cheers and applause] Whatever you want to call it. Everyone agreed on what color it was, even Donald Trump. When it was all over, even he said, [As Trump] "Well, that blew." [Laughter] For more on this, it's time for "A Closer Look." [Cheers and applause] [Dramatic theme music plays] Guys, I'll be honest, I was all prepared to come out here and say something like, "Look, there was a lot of hype and Democrats didn't live up to expectations. But narrowly retaking the House is still a good thing." Because, you know, waiting for the Democrats to have success can make you feel like you're Matt Damon trying to grow a [bleep] potato on Mars. [ Laughter ] But last night it was potatoes for everybody. [ Cheers and applause ] Democrats went into the night afraid polls were going to underestimate Republicans again. But if anything, the opposite was true. -Look, I think that this is obviously a huge victory for Democrats, but it's also a huge night for the polls as well. If anything, it might have been that polls underestimated Democrats advantage. -Finally, the polls underestimated Democrats for a change. Say goodbye to the shy Trump voter in Michigan and say hello to the shy, woke voter in Texas. [ Laughter and applause ] [Texan drawl] Hell yeah. Hell yeah, it's a ten-gallon hat. Ten gallons of compassion. [ Laughter ] [ Normal voice ] Democrats didn't just romp to victory in states they were expected to win. They won in deep red states they haven't even sniffed for decades. -We are now calling the Senate race in South Carolina, projecting that the Democrat, Annie Andrews, has beaten the Republican senator, Darline Graham. -Democrat Josh Turek will win the Senate seat in Iowa. -Roy Cooper will win the U.S. Senate seat in North Carolina. -In the battleground state of Georgia, CNN projects that Democrat Jon Ossoff will win the Senate race. Keisha Lance Bottoms will become the governor. -The AP has now called the Ohio Senate race. -Wow. -Democrat Sherrod Brown. -ABC news now projecting that Amy Acton will be the next governor of Ohio. -In the state of Michigan, the Democrat, Abdul Al Sayed, will win that race. -Democrat James Talarico will win the U.S. Senate seat in a high-stakes race in Texas. -CBS news can project the Kansas Senate seat for Democrat Adam Hamilton. -Trump won Kansas by what? 16 points? -Yeah. -That was in 2024. -Correct. -And Kansas has not had a Democratic senator in 90 -- -It has not elected one since 1932. -1932. The last time Kansas sent a Democrat to the Senate was before they sent Dorothy to Oz. [ Laughter ] And remember those feet sticking out from under Dorothy's house? Those were Mitch McConnell's. [ Laughter ] When they finally got the house off him, he took a picture with the newspaper to prove he was okay. -[ As Mitch McConnell ] Now uh, where -- Where are my slippers? [ Scattered laughter ] [ Laughter ] Who took my slippers? [ Normal voice ] And it's not just the big Senate races everyone's talking about. The Democrats are poised to win so many other contests in so many unexpected places, the professional news anchors didn't even know the candidates names. -There are races on the board right now that have no business whatsoever being close. Doesn't mean the Democrat's going to win that race, but I'm talking races that I didn't know at all. And I read like 40 different prep docs. North Carolina 13. North -- North Carolina 13. I've never seen these people's names before. [ Laughter ] As a Democrat, I'm like, "Who is this dude?" No one before tonight had Paul Barringer and District 13 in North Carolina on the races to watch list. I guarantee you because I read every last one of them. -I don't even think the Democrats thought they were going to win those races. There's probably a bunch of people waking up today who thought they were just running as sacrificial lambs in deep red territory saying -- The [bleep]! [ Laughter ] I gotta be a congressman now, Honey, remember that thing I signed up for as a joke when I was drunk? Well, we're moving to DC. That's how much of a tsunami this is. I mean, just look at Texas. Yes, Democrats won the marquee race there by double digits, which is insane in itself. But it's not just James Talarico. Democrats crushed all over Texas. -The Associated Press declares that Gina Hinojosa will be the next Democratic governor of the state of Texas. -Democrats got a sweep of the statewide races from Attorney General to Ag Commissioner and down the line. -Some of these sleeper races, like, say, Texas comptroller or Texas Railroad commissioner, races that aren't always top of mind or on the radar for voters was suddenly leading by Democrats for the first time in I don't even know who knows, like, how long. -Democrats making significant gains in their effort to take control of the Texas House. -In the Texas House, there were significant gains by Democrats. -Now, Democrats are expected to control the Texas House moving forward. -Behind me this morning, Senator, is the Texas State House. This entire state is Blue. -Texas. That Texas is a blue state. [ Cheers and applause ] But let me just say, don't worry, Texans. Despite the fear mongering ads from his opponents, Talarico ran on affordability, not a return to Wokeism. No one's going to replace your brisket with tofu or make "Landman" join a Polycule. [ Laughter ] [As character Tommy Norris ] These are my non-binary partners, Zephyr and Willow. Now, before we have our threeway, we would like to acknowledge that this oil field is on the stolen land of the Apache people. [ Laughter ] [ Normal voice ] Texas is now so blue, The only remaining Republican in statewide office is Ted Cruz. [ Audience whoops and boos ] The next Texas GOP convention is just going to be Ted in an empty room. [ Laughter ] Wait. Sorry. I'm being told that's a picture from his birthday party. [ Audience "awws " ] It's not your fault, Ted. The party full invite probably went to spam. [ Laughter ] To find a popular vote win this large in a midterm, you have to go back to the post-Watergate wipeout of 1974. That's how voters feel right now. They're as angry at Trump as they were at Nixon. The difference is Nixon at least had enough shame to try to hide Watergate. If it had been Trump, he would have shown up to a press conference with a mask and a crowbar. [ As Trump ] We're breaking and entering better than ever before. The point is, this is the big, clear cut, unequivocal Trump repudiation Democrats have been desperately chasing for ten years, and it finally happened. People are furious at high prices, constant lying, broken promises, the orgy of corruption and self-enrichment, the naked authoritarian power grabs, the violence in our streets, the relentless indignities, the constant rolling, reckless [bleep] show, and the non-stop obsession with home renovations. I mean this. This was Trump's closing argument the day before the election. -I'm thrilled to announce the official opening of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool. Now we're giving serious thought to changing the name to the Trump Reflecting Pool. They've been trying to figure this one out for a long time. And it's a -- it's a tough one because of the it's actually the largest pool, the longest pool anywhere in the world by far. This has been this is a massive piece of, uh, piece of pool. I mean, they've had years here where you couldn't see any water. It was just algae and it had a bad aroma, to put it mildly. -A bad aroma. Wow. I can't believe Trump's closing message of the reflecting pool doesn't smell like [bleep] anymore... didn't work. Also, the aroma wasn't so strong that people everywhere could smell it. It's not like a voter in Iowa said -- That's it. I'm voting Democrat. But... hold on. Hold on. I don't smell it anymore. [ Laughter ] I don't smell the pool anymore. I can't stay mad at you, Donald. Also, let's go back and give one more listen to Donald Trump's unique turn of phrase. -This is a massive piece of, uh, piece of pool. [ Laughter ] -I love when someone says, uh, to buy time and then still can't land it. [ Laughter ] Credit where credit's due. There's a chance no one in the world has ever said the phrase massive piece of pool. That sounds like ChatGPT if you drop your phone in the toilet. [ Laughter ] And if you thought that was dumb, wait until you find out there's a second Donald Trump and he was in Ohio saying something even dumber about Democrats wanting to make D.C. a state. Or at least I think that's what he's trying to say. -They want to pack the Supreme Court. They want to make Ohio a state. [ Audience laughs and groans ] -He's such a massive piece of, uh, tool. [ Laughter ] So this was clearly an unequivocally a defeat for Donald Trump or, or or, or hear me out, you guys. Maybe it had nothing to do with him. -Wow, we finally found something Trump doesn't want his name on. Also, buddy. My sweet buddy, sweet prince. I hate to be the one to tell you this, but you were on the [bleep] ballot, my man. Your name -- Your name might not have been there, but it's not like everyone forgot who was president. You did like 30 rallies in the month leading up to the midterms. You wouldn't shut up. You kept talking about how good senators asses were. You made the whole thing about you. This is like Ray Romano saying "Everybody Loves Raymond" was mostly about Robert. [ Laughter ] [ As character Robert ] Raymond. Raymond, the pool smells like [bleep] again. -[ As Raymond ] Ah! Ah! [ Laughter ] [ Normal voice ] We're doing a lot of voices, you guys. The only thing I'll give Trump... [ Cheers and applause ] The only -- The only thing I'll give Trump is that he never explicitly told voters he was on the ballot. Oh. What's that? Oh, he did do that. Well, I'm sure it was only once or twice. In fact, we're going to play a short montage of Trump saying he was on the ballot. But since the president is a man of his word, I'm sure it'll be a quick montage. -I'm asking you to pretend that I'm on the ballot. I'm on the ballot. I'm on the ballot. In this election, I'm asking you to pretend I'm on the ballot. You gotta pretend I'm on the ballot. Just pretend that I'm on the ballot. Because in a way, I am on the ballot. Pretend that I'm on the ballot. Just close your eyes and pretend I'm on the ballot. Pretend I'm on the ballot. Because in a way, I am on the ballot. Pretend that I'm on the ballot, if you don't mind. Pretend I'm on the ballot. But I really am on the ballot. Pretend that I'm on the ballot. Please pretend that I'm on the ballot. Pretend that I'm on the ballot. You know, in the truest sense, I really am on the ballot. Pretend I'm on the ballot, please. I really want you to pretend I'm on the ballot. So if you pretend that I'm on the ballot, and in a sense, I am on the ballot, please pretend I'm on the ballot. So I'm asking you to pretend that I'm running. Pretend I'm on the ballot. Gotta remember I'm on the ballot just because I am on the ballot. So I am really on the ballot. Pretend I'm on the ballot. In a certain way, I am on the ballot. Pretend that I'm on the ballot. Pretend, if you will, I'm on the ballot and actually I am on the ballot. Just pretend I'm on the ballot. Pretend that I'm on the ballot. But I really am on the ballot. Pretend that I'm on the ballot. And I am on the ballot. So we're on the ballot. I'm on the ballot. Pretend that I'm on the ballot. Pretend that I'm on the ballot. And in a certain way I am on the ballot. Pretend that I'm on the ballot. Please pretend I'm on the ballot because in a way, I am on the ballot. Pretend I'm on the ballot because essentially I am on the ballot. Pretend I'm on the ballot. Just say Trump's on the ballot. You're going to think of me as on the ballot, right? Everybody promise. Pretend I'm on the ballot. Pretend I'm on the ballot. Because we really are on the ballot. I'm asking you to pretend I'm on the ballot. [ Laughter ] [ Cheers and applause ] -Hm? Oh, oh. [ Applause ] Where am I? What happened? Is Ohio a state? [ Laughter ] I fell asleep after, like, 50. How many more were there? [ Laughter ] But as much as I love when Trump lies in hilariously transparent ways, I also enjoy when he gets sad, when he gets sad and philosophical, as he did last night when he called in to Fox News to mourn, but also to give himself grace. -It's just a point in time, Brett. Just a point in time. It's the way it is. There was a mood in the air, I guess. And, you know, if you look, I shouldn't feel guilty. [ Laughter ] -Oh, brother, nobody thought you were going to have a complex feeling like guilt. You have the emotional palette of a badger. You only feel two things -- hungry and mad. So it's a little weird when you sound like you're talking to your therapist about a breakup. [ As Trump ] I shouldn't feel guilty. I mean, I was a great boyfriend. There was just a mood in the air. She didn't like how much I talked about Jon Husted's ass. But, doc, you should see it. It's a really good ass. [ Laughter ] [ Normal voice ] Trump seemed fairly low energy when he was on the phone with reporters last night. Even when he tried to get angry at Fox News about their polling, they just pointed out that their polling had been accurate and he quickly caved. -I read that Fox said I'm not popular, you know. I mean, the Fox polls are terrible. You ought to get yourself a good pollster because your pollsters are the worst. -But tonight, actually, the results are pretty close to what the Fox poll showed. -Well, I don't know about that. -[ Mockingly ] Well, I don't know about that. [ Laughter ] Part of me listens to him, thinks -- Did he really think Republicans were going to win last night? And then I remember he really thought we were going to win a war with Iran in [bleep] a day. Trump spent the night coping, and he wasn't alone. Fox news anchors were on the verge of tears. It was practically a funeral. -If we as a country did not go into the war in Iran, and that was not on the agenda tonight, Is this a much different race tonight? -I think 100%. I don't think there's any doubt about it. The two years of any president, especially a dominant personality, is an incomplete grade. Americans are good people with a heart, and they didn't like some of what they saw. But higher gas prices, how people feel, I think, is the more dominant feeling force right now. -Do you think he inspired Democrats, more Democrats to come out than others? -Oh, I think -- I think the hatred for this man is unprecedented. I've never seen anything like it. -Yeah. You know what? [ Applause ] -I'm with Sean on this point. [ Laughter ] Why do you nasty, radical socialists hate this man so much? Is it because he lies and cheats and steals? Is it because he calls some of you jihadists or terrorists or traitors or scum or vermin or enemies of the people or thugs, is it because he threatens to jail you or deport you, or take your money, or send you to war? Or because when a person he doesn't like dies, he says stuff like, "Robert Mueller just died. Good, I'm glad he's dead. He can no longer hurt innocent people"? Is that why you hate him? And okay, you know what? Now that I'm hearing myself say that, I get why you hate him. [ Laughter and applause ] I get why you hate him. [ Cheers and applause ] I mean, forget the president. If you found your friends burn book at school and she wrote, "Kayleigh was a terrible cheer captain, and I'm glad she's dead," You'd say I can't in good faith give you my vote for prom queen. So the mood wasn't great at Fox News, but how about over on MS Now? I mean, I know these results are good for Democrats, but I'm sure they stayed straitlaced and professional. -[ Man speaking indistinctly ] -Looking back now at I'm sorry, I was just -- -We were talking. Sorry. What were you -- -It wasn't your fault. -What were you guys talking -- Well, I thought you were talking about food, which got me very excited. -I am -- We weren't. We are eating. -We're eating. But to go over there, we are eating candy so we are all sugared up. Michael has these gummy bears that's he's been -- -So let me just let me just level with you people. The biggest divide in America... The miasma of sugar coming off you guys... [ Laughter ] It's actually, like, kind of giving me weird -- -I'm happy to share. -They're giggling and eating candy like 5-year-olds at a birthday party. At one point, they stop looking at election results and just busted open a pinata. Even worse, if you looked out the window, Sean Hannity had his face pressed up against the glass. [ Laughter ] So the mood at Fox was glum. But when Republicans weren't sad and introspective, they were angry. The knives were out immediately, as Trump and his buddies on Fox looked for someone to blame in some cases before the results were even in. -President Trump said... -Darline Graham, nice woman, but she choked. First question, foreign policy of that debate was awful. She couldn't recover from that. The president did all he could to save that seat. Campaigned for her a lot in South Carolina. -Shows you how much loyalty these people have. They'll beg you to run for Senate in a difficult year. And then when you lose and humiliate yourself, they'll turn around and say, "Well, she's a [bleep] loser!" But I can't argue with their assessment that Graham was a bad candidate. I mean, aside from her debate flub, her closing argument was not convincing. -Democrat Annie Andrews, the most radical liberal candidate ever to run for office in the history of South Carolina. [ Crowd booing ] Like they say out in the country, she's just plain ol' bat [bleep] crazy. -[As Darline Graham] She's just plain ol' bat [bleep] crazy. Of course, that's the same thing my meemaw said about me when I told her I was gonna be a senator, just like my brother. Well, your dream came true, you big old bag of boils! [ Laughter ] They kicked me out, and now I'm back at home, stuck here cleaning your CPAP machine. Hooray for me maw! She wins again! [Normal voice] Probably the last time I'm ever gonna do it. So I want to get my meemaw in. [ Laughter ] So Trump and Fox spent a lot of time sniping. Which is why it's only natural that Trump returned today to his safe space. The place he feels most at home, most comfortable. And that's with his family, his loved ones. He gathered today for some much-needed private reflection with his wife and children so they could reconnect and digest the results and -- Wait. Sorry, I'm reading all this wrong. He was at his [bleep] ballroom. -It'll be the most beautiful ballroom, I think, anywhere in the world, and they've been trying to get it for 150 years. The ceilings are over 50 feet high. That's like a five-story building, and I don't think there's any ballroom -- I doubt there's a ballroom in the country with 50-foot -- 5-foot ceilings. You'll be able to have dinners for as many people as you want. You know, these beams are among the heaviest beams ever set. And Beau was telling me we're talking about it. If you look at that roof, that roof could actually hold helicopters on it as big as the yard. Whereas normally, as you know, I say this for the media, uh, a helicopter would touch that roof, would come right through the ceiling that you could put as many helicopters as you want on the roof. [ Laughter ] -I mean, he's like sadder than a high schooler with a broken leg. [ As Trump ] You guys want to sign my beam? [ Laughter ] [ Normal voice ] Why is he suddenly obsessed with putting helicopters on the roof? Is it because he's desperate for an escape? [ As Trump ] You could put a helicopter there, and you could even drop a rope ladder. So a president, even one that weighs, say, 238, 239 pounds, give or take, could grab it and fly away. There's even room for a second helicopter in case the first one breaks. And quick, everybody look over there. [ Laughter ] [ Normal voice ] What's with all those signatures behind you? -Everybody in the room signed it, all of the workers. Not just the steelworkers, the plumbers, electricians, the painters, everybody signed it. And I'm going to be the last to sign it. -That's your reaction to a historic repudiation Republicans themselves have called an extinction-level event not to sign a new law that might address some of the concerns Americans express with their votes, but to sign a beam? What are you going to do next? Carve your name into a tree? [ Laughter ] There's so much more to say about this seismic result, and we'll have a lot more time to unpack it as the days go on. But for now, the simple fact is that 10 years after he first fell ass backwards into the presidency, voters have fully and unequivocally repudiated Trump and his MAGA movement. There can be no mistaking how the voters feel and what this election means. When we look back on Trump's legacy, the nicest thing historians will be able to say about it is that... -It had a bad aroma. -This has been "A Closer Look." [ Cheers and applause ] [ Dramatic theme music plays ] [Theme music plays] [ Eyes whirring ] ♪♪