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Trump Prepares for G.O.P. Loss of House, but Perhaps Gains in the Senate At White House, Trump Watches Loss of House but Wins in Senate
(35 minutes later)
WASHINGTON — President Trump braced on Tuesday night for the bad news that he could face a Democratic-controlled House even as his mood was brightened by Republican victories that could expand his party’s majority in the Senate. WASHINGTON — President Trump spent Tuesday night at a private party in the White House residence, insisting to family and friends that Democratic victories in the House were expected, and focusing instead on Republican Senate wins that were a bright spot on an otherwise grim political referendum on his presidency.
Mr. Trump appeared to become happier, aides said, during a White House election night party as Democratic hopes of an overwhelming “blue wave” receded across the United States. In a post on Twitter just after 11 p.m., Mr. Trump ignored the reality that Democrats were poised to take control of the House and that Democratic candidates for governor had prevailed in states that will be central to his re-election bid in 2020.
The day began with White House aides expecting a brutal evening. But as the results began coming in, it became clear that Republicans were likely to hold the Senate, and Mr. Trump and his aides relaxed. “Tremendous success tonight,” the president tweeted after staying mostly silent throughout the day. “Thank you to all!”
The president strode into his party in the White House residence around 8:30 p.m., according to people present at the party, where television sets were placed around the room so people could monitor results. Mr. Trump had obsessed throughout the night about the results as he flipped back and forth between television news channels, according to people who were with him.
Mr. Trump moved around a room filled with family and friends, among them Richard LeFrak, Howard Lorber, Thomas J. Barrack Jr., Ike Perlmutter, Steve Witkoff, Sheldon G. Adelson, and cabinet secretaries like Steven Mnuchin and Wilbur Ross. His mood was improved somewhat by Republican wins in Senate races in states like Texas and North Dakota — victories that appeared likely to expand his party’s majority in the Senate.
Mr. Trump, who had no public events on his schedule throughout the day on Tuesday, had been focused on whether his dark closing message about the dangers of illegal immigration could once again help him defy the polls — this time showing that Democrats were likely to win control of the House and many governorships. But any feelings of relief by the president and his closest advisers, some of whom had been expecting a brutal evening, were likely to be short-lived, as the size of the Democratic victories, and the blame Mr. Trump might take for Republican losses, sink in.
The president strode into the White House party about 8:30 p.m., and moved around a room filled with family and friends. Among them were Richard LeFrak, Howard Lorber, Thomas J. Barrack Jr., Ike Perlmutter, Steve Witkoff, Sheldon G. Adelson, and cabinet secretaries like Steven Mnuchin and Wilbur Ross.
At a separate party, down the street from the White House, Republicans lined up outside the Trump International Hotel with “Drain the Swamp” buttons pinned to their lapels and jackets. Inside, a capacity crowd watched thundering televisions turned to Fox News and CNN.
Partygoers went back and forth between festive and pensive reactions, depending on which race was displayed on the screen. Women milled about in sparkler headbands and red, white and blue fascinators. One woman wore a white gown adorned with the president’s name, spelled out in red glitter.
“I think I’m optimistic that the Senate is looking to have a very strong turnout,” said Clare Ath, 22, an outreach coordinator for the National Review Institute. “I did expect the House to turn blue because that’s usually how it goes.”
Mr. Trump, who had no public events on his schedule on Tuesday, had been focused on whether his dark closing message about the dangers of illegal immigration could once again help him defy the polls — this time showing that Democrats were likely to win control of the House and many governorships.
For days, Mr. Trump’s advisers had been warning him that the losses could be deep, even as they were saying that the Senate should be a bright spot. Advisers acknowledged that Mr. Trump has a problem with female voters as he engineers his own re-election effort.For days, Mr. Trump’s advisers had been warning him that the losses could be deep, even as they were saying that the Senate should be a bright spot. Advisers acknowledged that Mr. Trump has a problem with female voters as he engineers his own re-election effort.
Mr. Trump knew his messaging may have gone too far, people close to him said, a sentiment reflected in his interview with an ABC affiliate owned by the Trump-friendly Sinclair Broadcasting. The president knew his messaging may have gone too far, people close to him said, a sentiment reflected in an interview with an ABC affiliate owned by the Trump-friendly Sinclair Broadcasting.
“I would like to have a much softer tone. I feel, to a certain extent, I have no choice. But maybe I do,” Mr. Trump told the affiliate when asked about his regrets from his first two years in office. “And maybe I could’ve been softer from that standpoint.” “I would like to have a much softer tone. I feel, to a certain extent, I have no choice. But maybe I do,” Mr. Trump said in the interview after being asked about his regrets from his first two years in office. “And maybe I could’ve been softer from that standpoint.”
For days, Mr. Trump had begun to change his public messaging to allow for a House loss by claiming that he himself was personally focused on the Senate contests in his campaign appearances. Even before Election Day, Mr. Trump had begun to change his public messaging to allow for a House loss by claiming that he himself was personally focused on the Senate contests in his campaign appearances.
Even with the Senate likely to hold, the White House was preparing for a Democratic House that would leave Mr. Trump’s administration vulnerable to a series of investigations with subpoena power. Mr. Trump told people that he assumed the House was going to change hands, and that it might mean more work, but that he was ready for it. The White House was preparing for a Democratic House that would leave the Trump administration vulnerable to a series of investigations with subpoena power. The president has told people that he assumed the House was going to change hands, and that it might mean more work, but that he was ready for it.
The loss of the House could lead to changes inside the West Wing, according to a number of people, the most significant being that the chief of staff, John F. Kelly, might leave, according to four people close to the president. He has told associates that a Democratic House could be an effective foil for him as he prepares to start his 2020 re-election campaign, especially if there is a backlash as Democrats investigate Mr. Trump and his administration.
There were already other departures expected, such as Bill Stepien, the political director, and Justin Clark, the head of the office of public liaison, both of whom are expected to work on the re-election effort. Mr. Stepien’s deputy, Brian Jack, is likely to fill the political director job. Still, the effect of Democratic control of the House could be enormous. In addition to beginning multiple investigations, Democratic representatives could try to use the power of their committees to force the release of the president’s tax returns, which he has refused to disclose.
The president had returned to the White House at 2:43 a.m. Tuesday after the last of 11 fiery campaign rallies over six days. Several people in contact with the president said he watched television coverage late into the night before finally falling asleep. For weeks, several aides to the president have discussed whether they should leave the White House before being subpoenaed, which could require them to testify before congressional committees.
In the last days of the campaign, Mr. Trump’s campaign manager, Brad Parscale, debuted a gauzy ad on television that focused on an economic message and was meant to appeal to female voters in suburban areas who have been repelled by Mr. Trump’s tone and rhetoric. The loss of the House could lead to changes inside the West Wing, including the departure of the chief of staff, John F. Kelly, according to four people close to the president.
But the president did not like the ad, seeing it as visually off, aides said. Mr. Trump wanted to focus on immigration, so the campaign’s final video depicted an illegal immigrant who had killed police officers. The video was deemed racist by a number of networks, one of them Fox News, and was either pulled or didn’t run at all — a highly unusual move for the campaign of a sitting president. There were already other departures expected, including those of Bill Stepien, the political director, and Justin Clark, the head of the office of public liaison, both of whom are expected to work on Mr. Trump’s re-election effort. Mr. Stepien’s deputy, Brian Jack, is likely to fill the political director job.
Mr. Trump remained largely silent throughout the day on Tuesday. One of his few public comments came early Tuesday in a late-morning, conspiratorial tweet about Democrats. The president had returned to the White House at 2:43 a.m. Tuesday after the last of 11 fiery campaign rallies over six days. Several people in contact with him said he watched television coverage late into the night before finally falling asleep.
In the last days of the campaign, Mr. Trump’s campaign manager, Brad Parscale, debuted a gauzy TV ad that focused on an economic message and was meant to appeal to female voters in suburban areas who have been repelled by Mr. Trump’s tone and messaging.
But the president did not like the ad, seeing it as visually off, aides said. Mr. Trump wanted to focus on immigration, so the campaign’s final video depicted an undocumented immigrant who had killed police officers. The video was deemed racist by a number of networks, one of them Fox News, and was either pulled or did not run at all — a highly unusual move for the campaign of a sitting president.
One of Mr. Trump’s few public comments on Tuesday came early in a conspiratorial tweet about Democrats.
After campaigning for a Republican Senate candidate, Josh Hawley, in Cape Girardeau, Mo., late Monday, Mr. Trump accused Democrats of spreading a rumor that Mr. Hawley had left the rally early.After campaigning for a Republican Senate candidate, Josh Hawley, in Cape Girardeau, Mo., late Monday, Mr. Trump accused Democrats of spreading a rumor that Mr. Hawley had left the rally early.
In fact, there is no evidence that Democrats suggested that Mr. Hawley left the rally early. The president appears to have been reacting to a statement — offered with no evidence or context — by Brian Kilmeade, a Fox & Friends host early Tuesday morning. In fact, there is no evidence that Democrats suggested that Mr. Hawley left the rally early. The president appears to have been reacting to a statement — offered with no evidence or context — by Brian Kilmeade, a “Fox & Friends” host, early Tuesday morning.
At just after 6 a.m., Mr. Kilmeade said: “Why Josh Hawley didn’t stay last night for the Missouri rally is beyond me. What could he have been doing that was so important?” Just after 6 a.m., Mr. Kilmeade said: “Why Josh Hawley didn’t stay last night for the Missouri rally is beyond me. What could he have been doing that was so important?”
Where Mr. Kilmeade got the impression that Mr. Hawley left the rally early is unclear. Many people on Twitter noted Tuesday morning that they saw Mr. Hawley on television as the rally was ending.Where Mr. Kilmeade got the impression that Mr. Hawley left the rally early is unclear. Many people on Twitter noted Tuesday morning that they saw Mr. Hawley on television as the rally was ending.