Trump touts veto power ahead of midterm results

• He has threatened to veto legislation passed by a Democratic-controlled Congress, saying he would become “Mr. Veto.”
• Trump previously said he would veto bills until Democrats came to the negotiating table.

US President Donald Trump pointed Tuesday to his veto power as a key source of leverage over Congress, reportedly telling CBS, “I have the ultimate power. It's called veto,” ahead of the announcement of results in the US midterm elections.

The remark shows Trump's readiness to use his presidential authority to block legislation if Democrats make significant gains and take control of either chamber of Congress, potentially complicating his administration's legislative agenda during the second half of his term.

Trump has repeatedly warned that he would block legislation passed by a Democratic-controlled Congress, should Republicans lose their majorities in the House of Representatives or Senate.

In an earlier exchange with reporters at the White House on Oct. 23, Trump said he would “veto everything” if Democrats gained control of Congress, arguing that repeated vetoes would eventually force opposition lawmakers to negotiate with him. “You veto, veto, veto, and then they come and they say, how do we get it done? And you make a deal,” he said. 

He reiterated the threat in an interview with New York Post journalist Miranda Devine for the Pod Force One podcast, saying he would become “Mr. Veto” if Democrats won control of either chamber. He suggested he would initially reject their legislative proposals before eventually reaching agreements with lawmakers. 

Under the US Constitution, a president can veto legislation passed by Congress, although lawmakers can override a presidential veto with a two-thirds majority in both the House and Senate. 

The midterm elections will determine control of both chambers and could significantly shape the remainder of Trump's presidency, including his ability to advance domestic legislation and his exposure to congressional investigations.

Read more: Trump hits record-low 38% approval in 2026 midterm exit polls, CBS reports