WASHINGTON: Republican allies and strategists urged US President Donald Trump to change course on Wednesday after Democrats won control of both chambers of Congress in the midterm elections.
Republicans blamed policies including the Iran war and tariffs for the defeat. Some called for changes in White House personnel and greater discipline within the administration.
Veteran Republican strategist John Feehery described the results as disastrous for Trump and urged him to overhaul his team. Trump rejected the suggestion that the election represented a personal rebuke. “I don’t view it as a hit on me,” he told Fox News late on Tuesday.
The president acknowledged that the eight-month-old war with Iran had hurt Republican candidates but defended his decision to launch the conflict. Vice President JD Vance also blamed the war for the party’s electoral losses.
A senior White House official told Reuters that aides were preparing for possible staff departures, Cabinet changes and investigations by the incoming Democratic Congress.
Read: Trump-Backed Senate Candidates Lose Four Key US Races
According to the official, internal polling had warned six weeks before the election that Republicans risked losing both chambers. Trump nevertheless resisted changing his approach to Iran.
Party concerns extended beyond foreign policy. A Republican political adviser said focus groups in Michigan and Iowa had raised concerns about Trump’s attention to White House renovations.
On Wednesday, the president visited the ballroom construction site and defended the time he had devoted to the project. The Democratic victories give the party greater leverage over Trump’s remaining presidency.
Read: Trump Links US Midterm Losses to Iran War, Backs Hegseth
Once the new Congress takes office, lawmakers can block legislation, challenge nominees and investigate the administration. The White House has been preparing executive actions covering immigration, tariffs, housing and federal spending.
(With additional input from Reuters)
