Even though the Democrats will control Congress after Tuesday’s midterms, President Donald Trump says he’ll become “Mr. Veto” in the final two years of his term.
While the outcome has been decided, it’s unclear what the distribution of seats in both chambers will be once the tally is finished.
As of 6:41 a.m. Eastern, the Democrats had won 228 seats, 10 more than the 218 needed for control of the House, according to The New York Times.
Meanwhile, the Democrats had already secured 54 seats in the Senate.
While these are significant majorities, they will not be veto-proof majorities.
Trump told CBS News as the polls closed that he would still retain some measure of power over what happens in Washington — if not by executive order, then by vetoing any partisan bill that comes from the Democratic Congress.
“I have the ultimate power — it’s called ‘veto,’” he said.
Order Abby Trivett’s New Book, “The Power of Suddenly” on Amazon.com!
CBS News reported that “he welcomes the moniker ‘Mr. Veto,’ in terms of describing his approach to Democrats.”
The outlet noted that Trump has observed how “recent Supreme Court decisions have empowered him and his administration to wield expansive executive powers inside the federal government even if Congress tries to block him.”
In the interview, Mr. Trump cited Trump v. Slaughter, a Supreme Court decision from earlier this year that allowed him to fire Rebecca Slaughter, a member of the Federal Trade Commission, and said that 6-to-3 decision enables him to exert sweeping control over many federal agencies, boards and commissions, regardless of who holds majorities in the House and Senate.
“We won the Slaughter case and the Slaughter case gives the president tremendous powers that it never had before,” Mr. Trump said.
The president said that he plans to move forward his agenda next year in numerous federal areas with this ruling as part of the foundation for his coming executive actions.
Thus, even without the backing of Congress, Trump remained confident he could get things done.
“The presidency, our presidency, is considered a strong presidency,” he told CBS News.
“You can do a lot.”
Furthermore, he said, the power of the veto would get the Democrats to the table.
“Historically, you veto for a couple of months and then they come and say, ‘We’ve got to make a deal,’” he said.
Meanwhile, a White House official CBS News spoke with said the results of the midterms wouldn’t affect the president’s agenda in the coming years.
“While Democrats may win power,” the unnamed official said, Trump will “keep the power to do almost everything he wants,” particularly on immigration policy and national security.
Trump also confirmed he would be proceeding with the White House renovations he’s undertaken in his second term, including the controversial ballroom.
“I actually enjoy doing it,” Trump said. “A lot of people, that doesn’t relax them, it makes them crazy, but with me, it relaxes me because I really do it well, and the White House is now pristine.”
“I’ll be finishing that,” he added regarding the ballroom. “It’s a ballroom and military complex.”
This article originally appeared on The Western Journal and is reposted with permission.
