Donald Trump has denied responsibility for the Republican Party's performance in the midterm elections, attributing the outcomes to the caliber of candidates who ran. He suggested that his own absence from the ballot was a key factor in the party's setbacks.
"I wasn't on the ballot, and if I was, we would have won in a landslide," Trump stated on the social media platform Truth Social. This declaration came as projections indicated Democrats were poised to retain control of the Senate and win a majority in the House of Representatives.
A White House official echoed Trump's sentiment, characterizing the mood as "defiant" and arguing the results were not a reflection on Trump's administration. The official stated, "Candidate quality matters, and President Trump did a better job promoting many of the candidates on the ballot than the candidates did themselves."
The official also suggested that voters would experience "buyers' remorse" with Democrats in power, especially concerning gas prices and liberal policies. The statement concluded, "regardless of how today plays out, President Trump's resolve to stop the Radical Left is only going to become stronger. Buckle up."
Trump's efforts to deflect blame followed reports of Republican losses in several key races. In South Carolina, Democratic challenger Annie Andrews defeated Darline Graham, the sister of the late Senator Lindsey Graham, who had been endorsed by Trump. Andrews became the first Democrat to win a Senate seat in the state since 1998.
In North Carolina, Democrat Roy Cooper secured a Senate seat previously held by a Republican, defeating former Republican National Committee chairman Michael Whatley. This marked the first Democratic Senate victory in North Carolina since 2008.
Additionally, Georgia Senator Jon Ossoff, a Democrat, successfully defended his seat against Trump-backed Congressman Mike Collins. Ossoff's victory was seen as a missed opportunity for Republicans, particularly as he was the only incumbent Democratic senator running in a state that Trump had won in 2024.