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WASHINGTON: President Donald Trump faced pressure from Republicans on Wednesday to change course after a midterm election \u200brout handed Democrats control of Congress and voters rejected his handpicked candidates in key races.<\/p>\n
Republican allies and strategists called for Trump to shake up his White House personnel, restore discipline and scrap policies they blamed for the losses, including the Iran war and tariffs, as his presidency enters its final years.<\/p>\n
Veteran Republican strategist John Feehery called the results a \u201chuge disaster\u201d for Trump.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe needs to clean house,\u201d Feehery said. \u201cEvery day from this point forward, he\u2019s becoming more and more lame.\u201d<\/p>\n
But Trump showed little indication that he viewed the election outcome as a reason to change direction.<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t view it as a hit on me,\u201d \u200che told Fox \u200cNews late on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
Democrats will now have the power to block \u200bTrump\u2019s legislation, \u200cinvestigate \u2060his administration \u200band \u2060challenge his nominees. That is expected to push Trump, who has already used executive authority aggressively, toward an even greater reliance on unilateral action.<\/p>\n
He will also have to decide whether to double down on an agenda that some Republicans fear has become a political liability, particularly for potential successors eyeing White House bids in 2028.<\/p>\n
Vice President JD Vance, who is viewed as Trump\u2019s likely political heir, appeared to put some distance between himself and the president on Wednesday, blaming the Iran war for the midterm losses. Such breaks could become more common \u2060if Republicans conclude Trump\u2019s longtime grip on the party\u2019s voters is weakening, strategists and \u200cparty officials said.<\/p>\n
WHITE HOUSE BRACES FOR STAFF SHAKE-UP, INVESTIGATIONS<\/strong><\/p>\n Inside \u200cthe White House, senior aides were bracing for staff departures, possible \u200bCabinet changes and Democratic investigations, according to a senior \u200cofficial who spoke on condition of anonymity.<\/p>\n \u201cIt absolutely sucks to be here right now,\u201d the official said. \u201cMorale \u200cis as low as it can get.\u201d<\/p>\n The official said internal polling had warned six weeks before the election that Republicans were headed for losses in both chambers, but Trump refused to change course on Iran despite warnings about the political consequences.<\/p>\n \u201cUltimately, he just didn\u2019t care,\u201d the official said. \u201cHe refused to listen to anyone.\u201d<\/p>\n Trump acknowledged late on Tuesday \u200cthat the eight-month-old Iran war had hurt Republican candidates but defended his decision to launch the conflict.<\/p>\n Republican concerns extended beyond the war. In focus groups conducted \u2060for competitive Senate races \u2060in places like Michigan and Iowa, national Republican political advisers grew increasingly concerned this summer as more Republican and independent voters voiced opposition to the president\u2019s focus on the White House ballroom and Washington renovations, a Republican political adviser said.<\/p>\n \u201cIf Trump spends the next two years talking about this same shit, we will get shellacked again in the next election,\u201d the adviser said.<\/p>\n Yet on Wednesday, Trump gathered reporters for an impromptu visit to the ballroom construction site and defended the time he has devoted to the project.<\/p>\n \u201cFor me it\u2019s relaxing,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n The White House also struck a defiant public tone, posting a photograph of Trump on social media with the message: \u201cPSA: TRUMP IS STILL YOUR PRESIDENT.\u201d<\/p>\n Trump still holds considerable power. Reuters previously reported that the White House has spent months preparing executive actions on immigration, tariffs, housing and federal spending \u200bthat could allow him to advance parts \u200bof his agenda despite Democratic opposition.<\/p>\n But executive authority will not be able to shield the administration from congressional probes.<\/p>\n \u201cNobody wants to deal with the investigations,\u201d the official said.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n