President Trump Reveals Plan to Keep His Agenda Moving Even if Democrats Take Control of Congress

President Trump says he is prepared to continue advancing his administration’s priorities even if Democrats capture control of Congress in Tuesday’s midterm elections, revealing that he would use his presidential veto power to block legislation he opposes while pursuing opportunities to negotiate new agreements.

During an interview with New York Post columnist Miranda Devine on her Pod Force One podcast, Trump explained how he would approach a divided government if Republicans lose their congressional majorities.

“I guess I’ll become Mr. Veto,” Trump said, indicating that he would be willing to reject Democratic legislation until congressional leaders were prepared to negotiate acceptable compromises.

The president suggested that such a confrontation might last a month or two before lawmakers returned to the negotiating table. His remarks reflected confidence that he could continue exercising significant influence over federal policy regardless of which party controls Capitol Hill.

Trump’s comments come as Republicans work to preserve their narrow congressional majorities in the November 3 elections. Democrats are attempting to regain control of the House of Representatives while competing for several closely contested Senate seats.

Republicans currently hold a 218-214 advantage in the House and a 53-47 majority in the Senate. A change in either chamber would complicate the administration’s ability to advance legislation during the remaining two years of Trump’s presidency.

The president acknowledged that a Democratic-controlled Congress would present challenges but emphasized that he would retain the constitutional authority to reject legislation passed by lawmakers.

Under the Constitution, Congress can override a presidential veto only with a two-thirds majority in both chambers. That requirement makes overriding a veto difficult without substantial bipartisan support.

Trump has exercised the power relatively sparingly compared with some previous presidents. He issued 10 vetoes during his first term and has vetoed two bills since returning to the White House in January 2025.

His latest remarks suggest he would be prepared to use that authority more frequently if Democrats gain control of Congress.

The president also expressed confidence that negotiations could eventually produce agreements on issues where the parties find common ground. His approach would combine resistance to legislation he considers unacceptable with the possibility of bipartisan deals.

The administration has been preparing for such a scenario for months, according to a separate Reuters report published Sunday.

Senior White House officials have been examining ways to continue implementing the president’s agenda through executive authority without relying on new legislation.

Deputy White House Chief of Staff Stephen Miller, Office of Management and Budget Director Russell Vought and White House Counsel Will Scharf have reportedly participated in those preparations.

Their work has focused on immigration enforcement, trade policy, federal spending and measures intended to address housing costs.

Administration officials have also considered additional tariffs on certain imports, changes to visa requirements for foreign workers and international students, and regulatory actions affecting construction expenses.

Those initiatives would depend on the scope of existing presidential authority and could face legal challenges.

The White House has maintained that the president intends to continue pursuing his priorities regardless of the election results.

White House spokeswoman Lauren Bis emphasized the administration’s commitment to border security, law enforcement and economic policies intended to benefit American households.

Trump has already relied extensively on executive actions during his second term, particularly in immigration enforcement, trade and management of the federal government.

His administration has used presidential directives to pursue policy changes that do not necessarily require new legislation. However, executive orders must remain within the authority granted by the Constitution and federal law.

A Democratic Congress could still limit the president’s agenda by refusing to approve legislation, conducting investigations and exercising oversight over federal agencies.

If Democrats gain control of the Senate, they would also acquire significant influence over the confirmation of judicial nominees and senior administration officials.

Congress would retain its constitutional responsibilities over federal appropriations, although the administration could continue implementing programs funded under existing laws.

The White House is reportedly reviewing how much flexibility it possesses in distributing previously appropriated funds and administering federal grant programs.

Those preparations indicate that the administration is considering several possible congressional outcomes while publicly campaigning for continued Republican control.

Trump also addressed the possibility of intensified congressional investigations if Democrats regain power.

Democratic lawmakers have discussed examining administration spending, executive decisions and relationships involving government officials and private interests.

The president warned that Democrats could use congressional authority to investigate him and members of his administration rather than concentrate on his legislative priorities.

Such investigations could involve hearings, subpoenas and requests for government records.

White House attorneys have reportedly been preparing administration officials for possible oversight demands, including questions involving executive privilege and the disclosure of internal communications.

Trump encountered a similar divided-government arrangement during his first term after Democrats won control of the House in the 2018 midterm elections.

That change limited his ability to pass major legislation and led to numerous congressional investigations.

Nevertheless, the administration continued implementing policies through executive agencies, regulatory decisions and presidential directives.

The president’s latest comments suggest he expects to use a comparable approach if necessary during the final two years of his current term.

Trump also discussed broader concerns about the direction Democrats might take if they gained control of Congress.

He warned that Democratic lawmakers could pursue changes involving Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico statehood, the size of the Supreme Court and the Senate filibuster.

Those proposals have been supported by some Democrats, although the party has not reached a unified position on every issue.

Trump argued that Republican control of Congress would help prevent legislative conflicts and allow his administration to pursue its existing agenda more directly.

The president also addressed comments from Elon Musk warning about the consequences of a Democratic victory. Trump agreed with the broader concern while expressing confidence that Republicans could retain their majorities.

Throughout the closing weeks of the campaign, Trump has participated in rallies and political events intended to increase Republican turnout.

He has emphasized immigration enforcement, economic policy and the importance of maintaining congressional cooperation with his administration.

The president also briefly addressed his political future, acknowledging that the Constitution prevents him from seeking another elected presidential term.

The 22nd Amendment prohibits a person from being elected president more than twice, meaning Trump cannot seek a third elected term under the existing constitutional rules.

He nevertheless emphasized that more than two years remain in his current presidency and that he intends to continue pursuing his agenda.

The midterm elections will determine whether Trump spends those remaining years working with Republican congressional majorities or negotiating with Democratic leaders who control one or both chambers.

For now, the president is presenting his veto authority as a central safeguard against legislation he opposes.

His administration is simultaneously preparing executive actions that could allow existing policies to continue without additional congressional approval.

Trump’s message is that a change in congressional leadership would alter the political landscape in Washington but would not eliminate his ability to govern.

Whether through presidential vetoes, executive authority or negotiated agreements, the administration is preparing to pursue its priorities under whichever congressional arrangement emerges from Tuesday’s elections.