Ahmed Kamel – Egypt Daily News
After a string of disappointing Republican losses in Tuesday’s state elections contests widely seen as an early referendum on his leadership and political influence, President Donald Trump sought to deflect blame, arguing that his absence from the ballot and the ongoing government shutdown were to blame for the party’s setbacks.
“I don’t think it was good for Republicans,” Trump admitted on Wednesday morning, addressing Senate Republicans during a breakfast meeting at the White House. “It was very Democrat areas, but I don’t think it was good. I’m not sure it was good for anybody.” He went on to suggest that the prolonged government shutdown now stretching beyond a month, had hurt GOP candidates at the polls. “If you read the pollsters, the shutdown was a big factor, negative, for the Republicans,” he said.
Trump had earlier posted on his social media platform that “TRUMP WASN’T ON THE BALLOT, AND SHUTDOWN, WERE THE TWO REASONS THAT REPUBLICANS LOST ELECTIONS TONIGHT,” though he did not specify which pollsters he was referencing. The president also repeated familiar demands for sweeping voting changes, calling for the elimination of mail-in ballots and the Senate filibuster. “Pass voter reform, voter ID, no mail-in ballots. Save our Supreme Court from ‘packing.’ No two-state addition, etc. TERMINATE THE FILIBUSTER!!!” he wrote.
The remarks came as Democrats celebrated a series of historic wins across the country, including the election of Zohran Mamdani as New York City’s first Muslim and South Asian mayor. Mamdani, a 34-year-old Democrat and self-described democratic socialist, delivered an impassioned victory speech on Tuesday night, calling his win a “testament to the power of inclusion and the promise of New York.”
Trump, who has often used Mamdani as a foil in his campaign rhetoric, responded online with a cryptic post: “…AND SO IT BEGINS!” Earlier in the week, he had threatened to slash federal funding to New York City if Mamdani won, framing the contest as a struggle between “American values and socialism.”
Speaking later Wednesday at a business leaders’ forum in Miami, Trump again criticized the outcome of the New York City election and hinted at possible retaliation. “On November 5, 2024, the American people reclaimed our government. We restored our sovereignty,” he said. “We lost a little bit of sovereignty last night in New York. But we’ll take care of it.”
He went on to describe Miami as “a refuge for those fleeing communism in New York City,” once again labeling Mamdani a “communist” despite his democratic socialist affiliation. “After last night’s results, the decision facing all Americans could not be more clear,” Trump said. “We have a choice between communism and common sense. As long as I’m in the White House, the United States is not going communist in any way, shape, or form. We’ll stop it.”
The president’s comments underscored a widening political divide following the 2025 elections, which saw Democrats not only retain key governorships but also expand their influence in several statehouses. While Trump’s allies have tried to downplay the losses as localized setbacks, political analysts view them as a warning sign for Republicans heading into the 2026 midterms and a test of Trump’s continued sway over the party he remade in his own image.
