Democrats Seize Congress as Trump Faces GOP Internal Conflict

The Democratic Party won control of both the House of Representatives and the Senate in the 2026 midterm elections, making Donald Trump the first U.S. President in 20 years to lose both chambers in a single cycle. Democrats secured 228 House seats and 54 Senate seats, flipping governorships in Texas, Ohio, Iowa, and Georgia. Hakeem Jeffries is positioned to become the first Black Speaker of the House, while Keisha Lance Bottoms became Georgia's first Black female governor.

President Donald Trump initially expressed surprise at the results and claimed Republicans would have won in a landslide had he been on the ballot. While he pledged to work with the new majority for the good of the country, he simultaneously reminded Democrats of his power to veto legislation. The White House later posted a defiant message stating, "PSA: Trump is still your president."

The defeat has triggered internal instability within the Republican Party. Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio have begun distancing themselves from the administration, particularly regarding the war in Iran. Senator Ted Cruz described the losses as a "Watergate-level repudiation." Meanwhile, late-night host Jimmy Kimmel called for Trump's resignation, prompting White House spokesperson Danny Ingle to call Kimmel a "no-talent loser."

Beyond legislative losses, Trump faces lawsuits from the National Trust for Historic Preservation over unauthorized alterations to the White House East Wing. In response to the political shift, Trump signed a proclamation preserving the Oval Office and Cabinet Room as national monuments. The Nasdaq index fell 5.5% following the results amid expectations of increased AI regulation.