Trump Focuses on White House Ballroom After Democrats Win Control of Congress
By Robeka Irfan — SCN NEWS
WASHINGTON— U.S. President Donald Trump showcased construction of his planned White House ballroom on Wednesday, a day after Democrats won control of both chambers of Congress in midterm elections that delivered sweeping Republican losses and set the stage for two years of divided government.
Democrats secured a Senate majority of at least 54 seats and gained at least 28 seats in the House of Representatives, according to election results reported by Reuters. Their victories included Republican-held Senate seats in Texas, Kansas and South Carolina, while contests in Alaska and Mississippi remained unresolved, leaving open the possibility of further Democratic gains.
Trump spent much of his first public appearance after the election discussing the ballroom project rather than his party's losses. Speaking to reporters at the White House, the president defended his renovation plans and said improving the historic building was personally satisfying despite criticism of the project's cost and scope.
The president briefly addressed the election results, saying he expected to work with Democrats unless they pursued policies he opposed. He also emphasized his authority to veto legislation, an indication of the potential confrontation between the White House and the incoming Democratic congressional leadership.
House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries said his party would prioritize reducing household costs and holding the administration accountable. Jeffries, who is positioned to become the first Black speaker of the House of Representatives, said Democrats would use their congressional authority independently of the White House.
The election results represented a major reversal for Republicans, who entered the midterms controlling the presidency and both chambers of Congress. Democrats made gains across traditionally Republican states, including Texas, where they won a Senate seat for the first time since 1988 and defeated three-term Republican Governor Greg Abbott.
Kansas elected its first Democratic U.S. senator since the 1930s, while Democrats also won a closely watched Senate contest in South Carolina. The victories demonstrated the breadth of the party's gains beyond the competitive states that usually determine congressional control.
Voter dissatisfaction with the cost of living, the U.S. war with Iran and Trump's handling of national affairs contributed to the Democratic victories, according to election surveys and reporting. Republicans lost ground in approximately 99% of the roughly 2,100 counties where most ballots had been counted by Wednesday morning, according to an analysis by Reuters and USA Today.
Democrats recorded particularly strong improvements in heavily Latino communities, including counties along the Texas border that had shifted toward Trump during the 2024 presidential election. The party also gained support in rural and urban areas, as well as communities with different income and education levels.
Trump had repeatedly urged Republican supporters to treat the midterms as a referendum on his presidency, telling voters during the campaign to imagine that he was personally on the ballot. Following the defeats, he argued that the party would have performed differently had he been a candidate.
The president acknowledged that the war with Iran had contributed to Republican losses but defended his decision to pursue the conflict. Vice President JD Vance also attributed the election setback partly to the war, which has affected energy prices and intensified public concerns about the cost of living.
The Democratic victory will substantially change the balance of power in Washington when the new Congress convenes in January 2027. The party will gain control of congressional committees, allowing lawmakers to investigate administration decisions, examine federal spending and demand testimony from government officials.
A Democratic Senate majority will also give the opposition greater authority over presidential nominations, including appointments to federal courts and senior government positions. However, Democrats will still face the president's veto power, creating the possibility of legislative deadlock over spending, immigration, economic policy and foreign affairs.
Republicans will retain control of Congress until the current legislative term ends in January. During that period, lawmakers face negotiations over government funding beyond December, providing the outgoing Republican majority with an opportunity to advance priorities before Democrats assume control.
The election has also prompted changes within Republican congressional leadership. House Speaker Mike Johnson said he would not continue leading his party's caucus next year, following losses that removed Republicans from the House majority.
Democrats' victories included several historic results. Abdul El-Sayed won Michigan's open Senate seat, becoming the first Muslim elected to the chamber, while Keisha Lance Bottoms became the first Black woman elected governor of a U.S. state following her victory in Georgia.
In New Mexico, Deb Haaland became the first Native American woman elected governor in the United States. The results reflected broader changes in political representation alongside the shift in congressional control.
Trump's decision to highlight the White House ballroom placed attention on a construction project that has generated controversy over historic preservation, financing and executive authority. The president has defended the development as an improvement to the presidential residence, while critics have questioned the demolition of the historic East Wing and the approval process.
The planned ballroom, estimated to cost approximately $400 million, is intended to accommodate major official events and receptions. Trump has said private donors would finance the project, although the administration has faced calls for greater transparency about its funding and related security expenditures.
The president's focus on the renovation contrasted with the response of Democratic leaders, who spent Wednesday outlining their priorities for the incoming Congress. Their stated agenda includes economic affordability, government accountability and closer scrutiny of administration policies.
The final composition of the Senate remained subject to outstanding results in Alaska and Mississippi, while additional ballots continued to be counted in several House races. Election-night projections are separate from official certification, which will be completed by state election authorities.
The incoming Democratic majorities will confront Trump with the first opposition-controlled Congress of his second presidency. Whether the White House and congressional leaders can reach agreements on major legislation will become a central question as Washington prepares for a new period of divided government.