Trump says will respect US midterm results ‘if they’re honest’

President Donald Trump said Tuesday he would respect the results of next week’s US midterm elections “if they’re honest elections,” renewing concerns that he could challenge the outcome if Republicans suffer losses.

Speaking as he headed to Texas to campaign, Trump added that he would work with Democrats if Republicans lose control of Congress but warned that, as president, he had a “strong” veto over legislation.

The remarks come ahead of the November 3 elections, when voters will decide control of both chambers of Congress, with all 435 seats in the House of Representatives and roughly one-third of the Senate up for grabs.

The midterms will serve as a major test of Trump’s presidency, determining whether Republicans retain control of Congress or Democrats gain the power to challenge his legislative agenda and intensify oversight of his administration.

A Democratic victory in either chamber could complicate Trump’s efforts to advance his domestic priorities, including legislation on immigration, taxation and government spending.

Trump’s comments also revive questions about his willingness to accept unfavorable election results.

The Republican president has repeatedly made unsubstantiated claims of widespread voter fraud, most notably following his defeat to Democrat Joe Biden in the 2020 presidential election.

Trump refused to concede that election and continued to claim, without evidence, that it had been stolen, despite court rulings rejecting challenges to the outcome and election officials finding no evidence of widespread fraud sufficient to change the result.

His efforts to overturn the 2020 election culminated in the January 6, 2021, attack on the US Capitol by his supporters as Congress met to certify Biden’s victory.

The president’s latest remarks come as both parties intensify their campaigning in the final week before the vote, with control of Congress set to shape the remainder of Trump’s term.

Even if Democrats gain control of one or both chambers, Trump would retain the power to veto legislation passed by Congress. Overriding a presidential veto requires a two-thirds majority in both the House and Senate.