Trump says he’ll become ‘Mr. Veto’ if Democrats take Congress, warning that he can still wield tremendous power

President Donald Trump says he is prepared to veto Democratic legislation if his party loses control of Congress in the midterm elections. Speaking by phone with CBS News on Election Day, before polls closed, Trump described the veto as “the ultimate power” when asked how he would deal with a Democratic majority next year. The outlet reported that he welcomes the nickname “Mr. Veto” for that approach.

Trump predicted that a standoff with Democrats would not last long. “Historically, you veto for a couple of months and then they come and say, ‘We’ve got to make a deal,'” Donald Trump said. The president also pointed to a Supreme Court ruling from earlier this year as a reason he expects to keep broad control over the federal government, regardless of which party runs Congress.

That ruling, Trump v. Slaughter, was a 6-3 decision that allowed Trump to fire Federal Trade Commission member Rebecca Slaughter. Trump said the case “gives the president tremendous powers that it never had before.” He argued that the decision lets him exert control over many federal agencies, boards and commissions, as the ruling expanded his power to remove officials from independent bodies.

Trump says a strong presidency can still get a lot done

“The presidency, our presidency, is considered a strong presidency. You can do a lot,” Donald Trump said. He added that he feels confident about pursuing his agenda over the next two years, whatever Congress looks like once the votes are counted. Two people close to Trump, speaking anonymously to the outlet, said White House talks about possible executive actions have focused on immigration and trade.

One of those sources said Trump would “keep the power to do almost everything he wants” next year on trade, the border, federal management, foreign policy and national security. The discussions reportedly involved deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller and Office of Management and Budget Director Russell Vought. However, neither adviser was quoted directly about what those actions could include or when the White House might roll them out.

Trump has already shown he is willing to use the veto in his second term, as he vetoed Colorado’s water bill earlier this year while citing fiscal concerns. A Democratic House or Senate would likely send him far more bills he opposes, which is the scenario he described in the interview as one he is ready for.

Trump stopped short of predicting the outcome of the midterms. “Will we win? We have a good chance. But we’re not going to be embarrassed,” Donald Trump said. He credited his campaign tour, which he said covered 29 days and 33 rallies, with changing the race, as he said people had predicted a big Republican loss about 30 to 40 days earlier.

Recent polling pointed in a different direction. The outlet’s own polling in late October suggested Republicans could lose control of the House. Trump also said he is not yet talking with advisers about a 2028 run, which would face steep constitutional and legal hurdles, and he described the Republican Party as having a “very good bench” of possible candidates.

The president also used the interview to talk about his building projects in Washington. He said he expects the White House ballroom to be finished in 2027 and hopes to start work on a proposed 250-foot arch. However, the arch is facing legal challenges, and he did not say how those cases might affect the timeline for construction.

Once the final House and Senate counts are settled, the veto threat could quickly move from a campaign talking point to a test of how far Trump’s executive power reaches.