Trump Defies Republicans' Call for Reset After Rout — SkimNews
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- Trump faced pressure from Republican allies on Wednesday, Nov. 4, to change course after the midterm rout handed Democrats control of Congress and voters rejected his handpicked candidates in key races, though he told Fox News late Tuesday, "I don't view it as a hit on me."
- John Feehery, a veteran Republican strategist, called the results a "huge disaster" for Trump, said "He needs to clean house," and added that the president is "becoming more and more lame."
- Democrats now hold the power to block Trump's legislation, investigate his administration and challenge his nominees, which is expected to push the White House toward greater reliance on unilateral action.
- Vance blamed the Iran war for the midterm losses, putting distance between himself and the president; strategists said such breaks could become more common as Republican potential successors eye White House bids in 2028.
- White House senior official said morale "is as low as it can get," that internal polling six weeks before the election warned Republicans would lose both chambers, and that Trump "refused to listen to anyone" on Iran, while aides brace for staff departures and possible Cabinet changes.
- Michigan and Iowa focus groups for competitive Senate races surfaced growing Republican and independent opposition to Trump's focus on the White House ballroom and Washington renovations; Trump visited the construction site Wednesday and said, "For me it's relaxing," while the White House posted "PSA: TRUMP IS STILL YOUR PRESIDENT."
- Reuters reported the White House spent months preparing executive actions on immigration, tariffs, housing and federal spending that could advance Trump's agenda despite Democratic opposition.
Why it matters: Democrats now control both chambers, and the eight-month-old Iran war is the policy Republicans most often single out for the rout — even as Vance blames it directly. With six weeks of internal warning ignored, the White House's fallback is prepared executive actions on immigration, tariffs, housing and federal spending.
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