Trump says Iran war played a role in helping Democrats through fuel prices
Donald Trump spent more than 20 minutes at the White House ballroom construction site in Washington on November 4, less than 24 hours after Democrats retook the House and Senate. He gathered reporters and network TV cameras there to congratulate his team, saying, “The whole thing is a miracle, and it’s all because of you.” The remark referred to the ballroom, not the Democratic electoral gains.
Trump’s remarks centered on the ballroom’s design and construction. He praised its “magnificent” columns carved out of limestone, 50ft-high ceilings and capacity for more than 300 guests, then highlighted heavy-set beams, a “drone-proof” roof, thick marble floors and a military-grade bunker. Trump also indicated that the ballroom would open soon.
The president pivoted to his love of construction projects and other efforts to beautify Washington, DC, which The Guardian described as controversial. Trump had spent months promoting those projects, including the ballroom, the refurbished Reflecting Pool, a planned triumphal arch, the cleaning of statues and monuments and a new White House helipad.
For more than 20 minutes, Trump did not mention the dozens of Trump-endorsed candidates who lost competitive Senate and House races to Democrats on Tuesday. Only when reporters asked about the midterms did he address his party’s performance; The Guardian described that performance as dismal and said Democrats had outperformed expectations.
Democrats retook the House and Senate and won several gubernatorial races. Senate candidates in historically red states such as South Carolina, Texas, Kansas and North Carolina defeated Republicans. Democrats also retained control in districts that had been gerrymandered over the past year to assist Republicans at Trump’s behest, according to The Guardian.
Interior Secretary Doug Burgum took the microphone and declared Wednesday “a day of celebration and a day of gratitude.” Trump appeared unfazed when he took questions about the result. “Look, I’ll get along probably with the Democrats, unless they want to be destructive, but I have the power of the veto,” he said.
Trump also addressed the war with Iran, saying it was “largely true” that the conflict played a role in helping Democrats because it drove up fuel prices. He insisted the conflict was worth it. The Guardian reported that Americans had grown increasingly frustrated with Trump’s performance as president and had blamed his economic policies and the war with Iran for increasing the cost of living.
Trump had spent months urging supporters to pretend he was on the ballot. As the scale of Tuesday’s Republican losses became clear, he pointed out that he was not actually on the ballot. He continued to claim that voters were not rejecting him by supporting Democrats, saying, “Look, if I were on the ballot we would’ve won.” The Guardian reported that the election was widely seen as a referendum on the president and his agenda.
His appearance at the ballroom mirrored his decision to deliver his final campaign address at Washington’s Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool. At that earlier event, he described changes to the pool’s pipes, the grass surrounding the area and the granite, repeating the construction-focused format of the Wednesday appearance.
Democrats had retaken both chambers, while Trump’s account of the result put the Iran war and fuel prices at its center. His stated willingness to work with Democrats remained conditional on whether they were destructive, and he cited his veto power.