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Reuters reported that the White House has been preparing for a possible Republican defeat since April, taking stock of administrative measures that could bypass Congress; Even if the Democratic Party regains control, Trump can still govern with veto power and executive power, but it is most difficult to avoid congressional scrutiny.
Mid-term elections are going to be held in America on the 3rd. Reuters quoted White House officials and two people familiar with the matter as saying that the President of the United Statestrump Government is working on thisrepublican party To prepare for the possibility of losing an election, take stock of administrative measures that can be taken directly in areas such as immigration, tariffs, housing costs, and federal spending, bypassing congressional approval. whetherdemocratic party By taking over Congress, he can block bills, personnel appointments, and limit government spending. Trump can still use executive power to rule and his veto power to strike back. However, a congressional investigation is inevitable, and the White House has already made arrangements to respond.
In an interview with the New York Post podcast “Pod Force One” on the 1st, Trump admitted that if the Republican Party loses control of Congress, he hopes to exercise his veto power in a month or two. He said: “I would probably be Mr. No, and in time I would probably reach an agreement with the Democratic Party.”
Republicans currently have a slight majority in the House of Representatives, with 218 to 214 seats, and in the Senate, with 53 to 47 seats. The Democratic Party needs a net increase of only 4 seats in the House of Representatives to regain control. Surveys show that the Democratic Party is more likely to win the House of Representatives, but the situation in the Senate elections is still difficult to predict. Trump has recently been actively campaigning across the United States in an effort to maintain the Republican majority in Congress, but White House staff are already preparing for possible political changes in 2027.
Senior officials such as White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller and Office of Management and Budget director Russell Vought have been working with the White House counsel’s office since April to study what policies Trump could promote on his own through executive power and how to respond to judicial challenges, according to people familiar with the matter.
The Trump administration is developing new measures covering tariffs, visas and housing policies
Executive actions currently being considered by the White House include imposing new tariffs on imported critical minerals and wind turbines, tightening visa rules for international students and temporary foreign workers, and reducing housing and construction costs. Volta is also studying how to use the congressionally approved budget to promote policy, and plans to change federal grant rules to give political appointees more discretion in allocating funds.
In fact, since Trump returned to the White House in January 2025, he has actively used executive power to impose massive tariffs, strengthen immigration enforcement, reduce the federal government’s manpower, and even promote foreign policies such as war against Iran without congressional approval. Nathan Gonzales, editor of “Inside Elections”, a non-partisan political analysis organization, believes that even if the Democratic Party wins the majority in Congress, Trump will continue to rule through executive power.
How can Democrats stop Trump if they control Congress?
If Democrats control the Senate, they will be able to block Trump’s nominees for federal judges, high-level officials in the executive branch, and even Supreme Court justices. Democrats can refuse to pass bills supported by Trump and limit government spending, but Trump can also veto legislation promoted by Democrats, and it is unlikely that Democrats will get enough votes to overturn the veto.
Additionally, Trump has repeatedly declared national emergencies in the past, thereby expanding his authority to take action without congressional legislation. Although Congress can vote to end the emergency, Trump can still veto it, which would require a two-thirds majority in both houses of Congress to overturn. As for administrative measures that exceed legal authority, they may be blocked by the courts, and the White House is also preparing relevant legal defenses.
Congressional investigation alone cannot avert early White House deployment
The danger Trump cannot avoid with executive power alone is investigations by a Democratic-led Congress.
Reuters previously revealed that top House Democrats have discussed how, if they take back control, they would use hearings, subpoenas and document inspections to investigate whether Trump abused his presidential power to benefit himself, his allies or political donors.
Three people familiar with the matter confirmed that White House lawyers have explained to political appointees and agency heads how to handle subpoenas and document requests, and warned them to be careful about leaving written records. In addition, the White House is also seeking legal advice from the Justice Department on allowing Trump to invoke “executive privilege” to prevent the content of his communications with his personal advisers from being investigated by Congress.
The White House refuted claims that the Republican Party could lose the election, accused the media of spreading falsehoods, and stressed that the government would continue to promote border security, law and order and economic policies.
