Trump indicated that he could lean more heavily on executive authority if Democrats attempt to restrict his administration’s policies through legislation.
United States President Donald Trump has asserted that he would use his veto powers to block Democratic legislation if the opposition party gains control of either chamber of Congress following the midterm elections.
In an exclusive phone interview with CBS News before polling concluded on Tuesday, Trump said he was confident of retaining control over his political agenda, regardless of the election outcome.
“I have the ultimate power — it’s called ‘veto,’” Trump said, adding that he was comfortable being called “Mr. Veto” if Democrats secured a majority in the House of Representatives or the Senate.
Despite predictions of Republican losses, including polling that indicated the party could lose control of the House, Trump remained upbeat about the GOP’s electoral prospects.
He maintained that his administration would have considerable room to pursue its policies over the next two years, even if Democrats gained ground in Congress.
The president also pointed to recent Supreme Court rulings that he believes have expanded executive authority, arguing that these decisions would allow him to exercise significant control over the federal government even in the face of congressional opposition.
‘Our Presidency Is Considered Strong Presidency’
Trump specifically referred to the Supreme Court’s ruling in Trump v. Slaughter, which allowed him to remove Rebecca Slaughter from the Federal Trade Commission. He argued that the 6-3 decision had strengthened the president’s authority over federal agencies, boards and commissions.
“We won the Slaughter case, and the Slaughter case gives the president tremendous powers that it never had before,” Trump said.
He indicated that the ruling would serve as a basis for further executive action across several areas of governance in the coming year.
“The presidency, our presidency, is considered a strong presidency. You can do a lot,” Trump said, while speaking to CBS News.
Trump also suggested that his veto powers could eventually push Democrats towards negotiations and bipartisan agreements rather than prolonged legislative confrontations.
“Historically, you veto for a couple of months, and then they come and say, ‘We’ve got to make a deal,’” he said.
His remarks point to the possibility of an escalating confrontation between the White House and Congress if Democrats win control of either or both chambers.
Trump indicated that he could lean more heavily on executive authority if Democrats attempt to restrict his administration’s policies through legislation.
White House Discussions On Further Executive Actions
According to CBS News’ sources, the White House has been examining additional executive actions in recent weeks. Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller and Office of Management and Budget Director Russell Vought have been key figures in these discussions.
Immigration and trade are among the policy areas being considered for further executive intervention, the sources said.
One person close to Trump argued that a Democratic victory in the midterms would not necessarily prevent the president from advancing his priorities.
“While Democrats may win power,” the person said, Trump would “keep the power to do almost everything he wants” next year on trade, border security, federal government management, foreign policy and national security.
‘We’re Not Going To Be Embarrassed’
Trump also defended his extensive campaign appearances ahead of the midterms, claiming his rallies had helped Republicans overcome what initially appeared to be a difficult electoral environment.
He said the political narrative had shifted from predictions of a major Republican defeat to the possibility of a much closer contest.
“If you remember, about 30, 40 days ago, people were saying it’s going to be a big loss, and now people are talking about, like we could even win it,” Trump said.
“I think the tour made a big difference. I did 29 days, 33 of these things, and they were all massive rallies, they were big rallies. No one has ever done anything like it. And I think we got the word out. I think we got the enthusiasm out, too,” he added.
Explaining why he invested so much time in campaigning for Republican candidates, Trump said he wanted to protect the progress he believed his administration had made.
“I just think that we’re doing so well that I didn’t want to see anything get in the way of what we’ve done,” he said.
He attributed economic momentum in several sectors to last year’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act and his administration’s trade policies.
