In the 2026 U.S. midterm elections, the Republican Party suffered a crushing defeat, and the Democratic Party regained control of both the House of Representatives and the Senate in the United States. After the election results were announced, on November 5th, local time, U.S. President Donald Trump met with media reporters for the first time in the Oval Office of the White House.
American media reported that, unlike in the past, a red hat with the words "Veto Power" was found on Trump's desk. Fox News said that this hat is very conspicuous and seems to have become part of the decor style of the Oval Office.
The White House subsequently posted a photo of Trump receiving media journalists on the social platform X, emphasizing this "veto power" hat.
Photos published by the White House on the X platform
The hat that appeared on Trump’s desk echoed his earlier remarks after the Republican Party’s defeat. In the early hours of the 4th local time, Trump said in an interview with Fox News: “Veto power is one of the most powerful powers a president has. They (Democrats) will submit some crazy bills to me, and I will veto them.”
However, Trump's attitude quickly changed. In a conversation with Politico News Network later on the 4th, he said that he “desires” to reach an agreement with his political opponents and would work with the Democrats to ensure the smooth functioning of national affairs. Trump said, “Although we have the ultimate power to veto everything, I don’t want to spend the next two years just sitting there and vetoing everything.”
The Republican Party suffered a devastating defeat in this mid-term election, losing seats in "red states" such as Texas, North Carolina, and South Carolina. This means they have lost control of both the House of Representatives and the Senate. Some analysts believe that Trump wants to continue advancing his political agenda, but with the Democrats controlling most seats, Washington may be stuck in a political deadlock for the next two years.
