Trump Says He’ll Become “Mr. Veto” If Democrats Win Congress

Veto pledge after midterms

President Donald Trump said he may become “Mr. Veto” if Democrats win Congress in Tuesday’s midterms, and he told The Post’s Miranda Devine, “I guess I’ll become Mr Veto,” adding, “I’m not going to let them ruin it.”

+2Mr Veto pledge8 of 8 outlets reported it▾

Trump said Democrats would send legislation to the White House and he would veto it, telling The Post’s Miranda Devine, “They’ll be sending stuff up, you veto it,” and he predicted that after “a month or two” of vetoes, Democrats would “come over and make a deal.”

+2Vetoing bills8 of 8 outlets reported it▾

Trump’s White House spent months preparing for a possible Democratic takeover of Congress, developing plans to advance major parts of his agenda through executive power while bracing for investigations.

Senior officials including deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller and budget director Russell Vought worked with the White House Counsel’s Office since April to identify executive actions on immigration, tariffs, housing costs and federal spending that Trump could pursue without congressional approval.

Trump expects he could issue vetoes for “a month or two” before reaching compromises with Democrats if Republicans lose control of Congress.

Month or two6 of 8 outlets reported it · not in Al-Naḥar and 1 more▾

Reporting for this sectionHindustan TimesReuters

White House workarounds

The Herald Business international desk said the White House has been preparing executive actions that could be taken without congressional approval in anticipation of Democrats reclaiming a majority on Capitol Hill, and it said Trump told the New York Post, “I’ll probably be 'Mr. Veto,'”

White House counsel Will Scharf and his team assessed “what Trump can legally do on his own, where he could push the limits of his authority and how to defend those decisions in court,” as the administration maps a path to govern without Congress.

The planning underscores a paradox of Tuesday’s midterm elections, because capturing control of Congress would give Democrats power to investigate Trump, block legislation and constrain his spending priorities.

The White House official described executive actions under consideration including new tariffs on imports of critical minerals and wind turbines, tighter rules on visas for international students and temporary foreign workers, and measures aimed at lowering housing and construction costs.

Vought is examining which priorities can move forward using money already appropriated by Congress, and he also wants to change federal grant rules to give political appointees more say in which government programs receive taxpayer money.

Reporting for this section헤럴드경제Reuters

What Democrats could do

If Democrats win one or both chambers, Trump would retain veto power and broad executive authority, limiting Democrats’ ability to enact major legislation. If Democrats win both the House and Senate, Democrats would regain control of Congress and shift power in Washington, allowing them to block much of Trump’s legislative agenda, investigate his administration and determine which bills reach his desk. Democrats need a net gain of four seats in the US House of Representatives as well as the US Senate to overturn Republicans’ narrow 218-214 and 53-47 majorities.

Control of the Senate would allow Democrats to block Trump’s judicial and executive-branch nominees, including any Supreme Court pick, and it quoted Andrew Busch saying, “I would anticipate they will be very reluctant to approve any of the president's appointments.” Trump would retain broad executive authority over trade, foreign policy and the federal bureaucracy even if Democrats capture Congress, and the White House pushed back on the prospect of Republican losses through spokeswoman Lauren Bis.

Reporting for this sectionNewsNationReuters