President Donald Trump says he will accept US midterm results and work with Democrats

Donald Trump spent the final stretch of the US midterm campaign urging voters to treat the election as a verdict on his presidency. Now that the results are turning against his party, the US President says he is prepared to accept the outcome, and work with the Democrats.

“I am absolutely willing to accept those results...We’ll work with the Democrats, and we’ll, you know, look forward to working with them. We’ll probably work something out,” he told The New York Times in an interview.

The remarks come as Democrats have retaken control of the US Senate and are closing in on a majority in the House of Representatives. The results threaten to reshape Washington’s political balance and restrict Trump’s room to push through his legislative agenda during the final two years of his term.

Trump blames absence from ballot as Republicans face midterm backlash

Before signalling his willingness to work with Democrats, Trump sought to distance himself from the Republican setbacks. In a post on Truth Social, he argued that his absence from the ballot had cost his party a decisive victory. "I wasn’t on the Ballot and if I was, we would have won IN A LANDSLIDE! Thank you for your attention to this matter. President DONALD J. TRUMP," he posted.

The remark came despite Trump's extensive campaign appearances and his earlier appeal to supporters to vote as though he himself were on the ballot. His response also contrasts with his position before polling day: on October 27, The Washington Post reported that Trump had declined to accept the results unconditionally, saying he would do so if the elections were “honest”.

Democrats retake Senate as House control remains in play

The Senate result marks a significant setback for Republicans. The Associated Press reported that Democrats had secured the 51 seats needed to take control of the upper chamber, with victories in states including Texas, Iowa, Kansas and South Carolina.

The House picture, however, remains unsettled. Democrats have flipped seven Republican-held seats, according to the AP, and need a net gain of three to secure a majority. If they succeed, they will gain control of the chamber for the first time during Trump's second presidency.

That shift could give Democrats greater power to investigate the administration, summon officials through congressional subpoenas and scrutinise government decisions. The AP noted that control of even one chamber would open the way for investigations and possible impeachment efforts.

Annie Andrews' South Carolina win delivers a symbolic blow

One of the most striking results came from South Carolina, where Democrat Annie Andrews defeated Republican Darline Graham, the sister of the late Senator Lindsey Graham. The victory was part of a wider Democratic advance into traditionally Republican territory.

After her win, Andrews said: "South Carolina, you have shown the nation — in an era of partisan divides, of vitriol and namecalling, in a politics dominated by billionaires, special interests, and insiders in Washington — that we will not bow down. We will not back down. And we will chart our own course."

The results point to voter frustration over the economy, high prices and the direction of the country. The AP's voter poll found that about three-quarters of voters considered the economy to be in poor or not-so-good shape, while many reported financial hardship linked to inflation.

For Trump, the challenge now is not simply to accept the election verdict. It is to govern with a Congress that may be far less willing to follow his lead.

(With inputs from ANI)