Donald Trump's party has lost control of both the House and the Senate in a devastating blow to his presidency. A wave of Democratic victories swept across the country overnight, with Republican strongholds including Texas opting for the Democrats.
The shift also reached Kansas, where a Democrat senator had not been elected in nearly a century, and South Carolina.
Voters Turn on Trump Over Iran War
It appears voters are turning on Trump following the Iran War, which has driven up the cost of living through fuel spikes. The President said he was "a little bit surprised" after "tremendous rallies" in the build-up to the midterms, before admitting the conflict may have impacted the result.
Speaking to Fox News, he said voters "probably weren't willing to do the short-term consequence of paying more for gasoline, and I understand that."
Health Concerns and Election Results
The result also follows widespread concerns about Trump's health. In one incident in October, the 80-year-old raised alarm bells after baring his teeth at a reporter before calling him a "sick man" in an Oval Office clash, before "glitching" on stage at a rally in Iowa.
Petrol prices have soared above $4 per gallon (equivalent to around 78p per litre) for long periods this year in the US. They remain high as maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz in the Middle East continues to be affected.
Trump Accepts Results and Veto Threat
Despite repeated efforts to question the security of the elections, Trump said he would accept the results. Asked about the prospect of working with a Democratic-controlled Congress, he said it has been done before.
"It's the power of veto, it's one of the stronger powers that a president has," he said. "They'll send over things that are insane and I'll veto them, after a couple of months of vetoes they'll call and they'll say 'how do we get this stuff done' and we'll work together."
How the Midterm Results Break Down
The US Congress is made up of two parts – the lower chamber the House of Representatives, and the upper chamber, the Senate. In the House, a party needs 218 seats for a majority. The Democrats have already cinched 228, compared to the Republicans' 139, with 68 yet to be announced.
In the Senate, a party needs 51 seats for an outright majority. The Democrats now have 54-44, with two races still to be called.
Texas senator-elect James Talarico told a victory rally, "we are tired of being told to hate each other", after a historic win. "We didn't win this race by alienating our neighbours or shaming our neighbours," he said.
