Trump surprised by Republican defeat: “I thought they'd do better”

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump expressed surprise following the Republican Party's defeat in the November 3 US midterm elections, which saw Democrats capture majorities in both the House of Representatives and the Senate. “Well, I'm a little bit surprised. I thought they'd do better,” Trump said in his initial reaction to the election results. The president pointed to approximately 30 campaign rallies he held, claiming they attracted thousands of enthusiastic supporters. According to Trump, attendance was so high that many people could not enter the venues and had to watch the events on large screens outside. “There were thousands and thousands of people outside, let alone inside,” Trump said, emphasizing the excitement surrounding his campaign appearances. However, he acknowledged that the large crowds did not necessarily translate into votes for Republican candidates. “I thought that I could transfer those people into candidates,” Trump admitted, suggesting that this had not worked in certain races.

He emphasized that several Republican candidates had won their contests, although others had fallen short of expectations. Trump also expressed personal disappointment over the defeat of a candidate he referred to as Darlene, noting that she had been dealing with emotional difficulties while simultaneously campaigning.

The Democratic victory marks a significant shift in American politics, leaving Trump facing an opposition-controlled Congress for the remainder of his presidency. Although surprised by the outcome, Trump offered no definitive explanation for the Republican losses. His remarks nevertheless reflected his expectation that his personal popularity and the enthusiasm at his rallies would have translated into stronger electoral results for his party.