Trump Says He’d Use Veto if Democrats Win Congress in Midterms

President Donald Trump said he would aggressively use his veto power if Democrats win control of Congress in the midterm elections.

Trump said in a New York Post podcast interview that he may have to become “Mr. Veto” if Democrats take over Congress, Bloomberg reported on November 1. Fox News aired part of the interview that day, and the full version is set to be released on November 2.

“If Democrats send bills, you veto them,” Trump said. “After they get vetoed for a month or two, they’ll eventually come to negotiate.” He added that he hopes he will not have to face that situation.

The remarks are notable because Trump publicly acknowledged the possibility that Republicans could lose the midterms. He has continued campaigning in areas where Republican support has traditionally been strong, and he was also scheduled to visit Kansas and Iowa on November 1.

Recent polls suggest Democrats could pick up the three additional House seats needed to secure a majority. In the Senate, seven races are highly competitive. Republican strategists, however, say their own surveys show the party remains competitive in key Senate contests.

Trump has also stressed that the U.S. economy is at its strongest level in history, even as voters remain concerned about a war with Iran and high living costs. He also argued that opinion polls do not accurately reflect actual turnout among Republican voters.

In the interview, Trump also addressed the possibility of seeking a third term. “If there were a chance, I’d like to run again, but the constitutional provision is very clear,” he said. The 22nd Amendment to the U.S. Constitution bars anyone from being elected president more than twice.