Trump projects power after midterm losses as Republicans lose leverage
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President Donald Trump tried to project strength with a photo and a boast about still being president even as his party absorbed major midterm defeats, underscoring the gap between his rhetoric and the weakened political position of Republicans.
President Donald Trump posted a photograph of himself in the Oval Office on X with the caption “Trump is still your president,” a performative show of dominance meant to mask the reality of his party’s sweeping losses in the recent midterm elections. While the results have stripped Republicans of majorities in either chamber, Trump still retains broad constitutional powers, including the ability to issue executive orders, impose tariffs and exercise the veto, which can only be overridden by a supermajority in Congress.
Analysts say the willingness to actually use those powers may be fading as Trump’s political grip weakens. Vice-president JD Vance blamed the Republican defeat on the war in Iran that the administration launched with Israel, writing that “everyone knows why we lost.” Reports from a U.S. media partner indicate that Trump has consulted advisers about possibly replacing Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, though the president denied any imminent change.
“Republicans who think that they need to pivot away from Trumpism and from the [Make America Great Again] movement are going to either try to emphasise different policy issues, or they're going to try to frame themselves in ways that show some daylight between themselves and Donald Trump,” said David Miller, an assistant professor of government at American University.
Trump later told reporters that he would cooperate with Democrats unless they act “destructively,” adding that he still possesses the veto power. His remarks highlight the tension between his defiant posture and the broader legislative reality, where Democrats now control both the House and Senate and can obstruct or challenge his initiatives through new laws.