×
Entertainment

Trump's race to save face: President denies midterm losses are his fault as he blames poor candidates - 'I would have won by a landslide'

Trump's race to save face: President denies midterm losses are his fault as he blames Iran and poor candidates: 'I would have won by a landslide'

Donald Trump has admitted that the Iran war was a factor in the Republicans' midterm election defeat - but insisted that the results were not his fault and are down to poor candidates.

'People agree with what I'm doing on Iran, but they probably weren't willing to deal with the short term consequence of paying more for gasoline,' Trump said on a phone call to Fox News.

'You know, I understand that. I don't agree with it and I would say to people, it's a short term problem but for long term gain.'

The president insisted his absence from the ballot was the real reason for the losses, despite repeatedly urging supporters to imagine he was running, including on Fox the night before the election.

'I wasn't on the ballot, and if I was, we would have won in a landslide,' Trump wrote on Truth Social.

Trump sounded off after a series of brutal results showed the Democrats were set to take the House and the Senate, including in seats where the president had held rallies in an attempt to rescue the results. 

Asked whether he would make changes to his cabinet, Trump told Fox: 'I don't think so. It had nothing to do with my cabinet … It's just a point in time. There was a mood in the air, I guess.'

Trump argued that presidents throughout history had been punished in the midterm elections and that he was no different, but said he had remained optimistic because of the reception he received at rallies across the country.

'I'm a little bit surprised. I thought they'd do better. We had tremendous rallies,' Trump added.

Donald Trump reacts as he takes the stage during a campaign rally at the Majestic Valley Arena in Kalispell, Montana, US, October 14

A White House official described the mood as 'defiant' and echoed Trump's statement, arguing the result was not a referendum on his administration.

'Candidate quality matters, and President Trump did a better job promoting many of the candidates on the ballot than the candidates did themselves,' the official said.

'Also, anyone who voted Democrat today is going to have a serious case of buyers' remorse when gas prices come down quickly when the Iran conflict is solved but they're still stuck with list of liberal extremist Democrats.

'And a final note here: regardless of how today plays out, President Trump's resolve to stop the Radical Left is only going to become stronger. Buckle up.'

The mood at the White House midterms watch party quickly turned sour as Republicans stacked up losses.

A White House official told the Daily Mail that staff grew 'defiant' as the event continued, warning the president was more resolved than ever to combat the threats posed to the Trump administration by a Democratic majority in Congress. 

That includes an anticipated third impeachment and aggressive investigations into Trump and his family members. 

'President Trump's resolve to stop the Radical Left is only going to become stronger,' the official noted. 'Buckle up.' 

The president did not address the press on Tuesday as the election results came in.  

A second White House official said the party was 'still going strong' even though some cabinet officials and staffers left the event early. 

Trump officials watching the event breathed a sigh of relief when top Republican candidates won narrow victories in Florida, offering some early hope in the evening. 

But major losses for Republican candidates in Texas had the reverse effect. 

Incumbent Governor Greg Abbott and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, who ran for Senate, went down in blistering defeats. 

Trump took to Truth Social to rage against Abbott, whom he blamed for flipping to a 'RINO' - Republican in name only. 

'If Greg Abbott, the Governor of Texas, hadn't become a RINO in the last six months of his Political Life, he wouldn't have lost,' seethed Trump. 

'He went back to his original formula, and it wasn't pretty!' 

Trump takes off his hat after hosting an event at the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool

White House officials blamed Republican candidates for heavy Republican losses, despite President Trump's best efforts to bring out his supporters to the polls

The president endorsed Republican candidates in important races, including in South Carolina where the late Senator Lindsey Graham's sister Darline lost a bid for his Senate seat. 

Democrat Annie Andrews, a pediatrician, defeated Graham, becoming the first Democrat to win a Senate seat in South Caroline since 1998. 

Her defeat came despite Trump making three recent visits to the state to bolster her campaign. Andrews was ahead even in traditional Republican strongholds, including Greenville County.

In neighboring North Carolina, former Democratic governor Roy Cooper defeated Michael Whatley, the former Republican National Committee chairman, to capture the seat being vacated by retiring Republican Senator Thom Tillis.

It was the first Democratic Senate victory in the state since 2008, delivering a second Republican-held seat to the opposition.

Republicans also failed to dislodge Georgia Senator Jon Ossoff, who defeated Trump-backed Congressman Mike Collins to secure a second term.

Ossoff was the only incumbent Democratic senator defending a seat in a state Trump carried in 2024, making his victory a significant missed opportunity for Republicans.

GOP candidate Michael Whatley also lost his bid for the Senate in North Carolina. 

Outside the White House was quiet as officials monitored election returns behind closed doors

The White House was critical of Republican candidates who failed to drive out President Trump's base

The president spent much of Tuesday urging voters to support Republican candidates but failed to drive out the vote. 

Another Trump advisor told the Daily Mail that Republicans failed to attract the same coalition that he rallied to victory in 2024.

'Republicans have had ten years to figure out how to draw those low propensity Trump voters to the polls, if they can't get it done, they deserved to lose.' 

Trump spent the last 32 days holding 30 events in 20 states for Republican candidates. His MAGA Inc. PAC spent over $370 million for Republicans. 

One Trump insider said the results were disappointing but that the president had always expressed doubt that Republican majorities could survive the midterms.

The White House legal team has been preparing for a slew of investigations launched by newly empowered Democrats in the next Congressional term. 

'I fully expect the president to dig in, and fight fight fight,' the insider said. 'He's been through this before.'

§

Blake Lively looked as if she had some new pep in her step when she was spotted out in New York City on Tuesday night in a stunning little black dress.

The 39-year-old Gossip Girl star was spotted out in Manhattan's Upper East Side for an event celebrating the launch of jeweler Brent Neale's new holiday collection, according to E! News.

Although Lively was reportedly joined by friends, her husband Ryan Reynolds, 50, didn't appear by her side.

The Daily Mail has reached out to Lively's representative for comment but hasn't yet heard back. 

Lively – who recently revealed her over-the-top beauty regimen – channeled classic glamour in her skimpy black dress, which was decorated with glittering sequins.

The off-the-shoulder minidress featured a playful black bow that covered her cleavage for a touch of modesty.

Blake Lively looked as if she had some new pep in her step when she was spotted out in New York City on Tuesday night in a stunning little black dress

The 39-year-old Gossip Girl star was spotted out in Manhattan's Upper West Side for an event celebrating the launch of jeweler Brent Neale's new holiday collection, according to E! News

Lively – who recently revealed her over-the-top beauty regimen – channeled classic glamour in her skimpy black dress, which was decorated with glittering sequins

Lively's short skirt showcased her toned legs, which culminated in clear Louboutins that strapped around her ankles and featured black-tipped toes.

The It Ends with Us star, who is stepping out in the wake of her bruising legal drama with her former costar and director Justin Baldoni, wore her long blond hair in dramatic waves cascading down her shoulders.

She completed her glamorous ensemble with a simple black leather hobo handbag, and she added some extra sparkle with dangling earrings and multiple enormous sparkling rings.

Lively looked as if she was on top of the world as she beamed for photographers outside the shindig.

The outing comes after Lively revealed the secrets of the beauty regimen she uses to look as if she's in the 'first trimester of life' last week.

The actress took to her Instagram Story to share a candid clip of the nighttime routine she uses to maintain her 'natural beauty.'

She appeared to be wearing headgear with red-light therapy over her hair, in addition to a sheet mask with extra pieces she had pasted to her bare face. 

The Gossip Girl alumna was also bundled up in a brown fleece hoodie while seemingly winding down for the night with her beauty routine.

The off-the-shoulder minidress featured a playful black bow that covered her cleavage for a touch of modesty

Lively's short skirt showcased her toned legs, which culminated in clear Louboutins that strapped around her ankles and featured black-tipped toes

The It Ends with Us star wore her long blond hair in dramatic waves cascading down her shoulders

She completed her glamorous ensemble with a simple black leather hobo handbag

Lively added some extra sparkle with dangling earrings and multiple enormous sparkling rings

Lively looked as if she was on top of the world as she beamed for photographers outside the shindig

The outing comes after Lively revealed the secrets of her beauty regimen last week

She joked that her go-to products make her look as if she's in the 'first trimester of life'

The actress took to her Instagram Story to share a candid clip of the nighttime routine she uses to maintain her 'natural beauty' 

Lively gave a glimpse into her cozy wind-down routine shortly after the drama involving her film It Ends With Us and her director and costar Justin Baldoni. 

'Natural beauty is effortless,' she quipped at the bottom of her post, which pictured her taking a deep breath while the mask covered her face.

Lively also drew thought bubbles around her face, and in one, she wrote: 'If I don't look like I'm in the first trimester of life after this much effort I quit.' 

She continued: 'I miss the 2000s when we just used that handsoap with fish characters on it on our face & called it a day.' 

The Gossip Girl star also noted the lights in the background of her room in another thought bubble: 'My kids' star projector that I stole is a vibe tho.'

She set her candid post to the tune of Fergie and Ludacris' 2006 smash hit Glamorous.

The mother of four – who shares James, 11; Inez, ten; Betty, seven; and Olin, three, with her husband Ryan Reynolds – often shares snippets of her hair and beauty routines on social media.

In August, she shared a video of herself getting ready in her bathroom before rushing out the door as a busy mother and businesswoman. 

The mother of four – who shares James, 11; Inez, ten; Betty, seven; and Olin, three, with her husband Ryan Reynolds – often shares snippets of her hair and beauty routines on social media; above with Reynolds in April 2025 in NYC

In August, she shared a video of herself getting ready in her bathroom before rushing out the door as a busy mother and businesswoman

Her post comes after she was in a legal battle with Baldoni, and the former costars settled right before their trial was set to begin. Baldoni was ultimately ordered to pay $400,000 of Lively's legal fees earlier this year; pictured together in It Ends With Us

'The look: no time but need to look cute while ALSO raising children,' the movie star, who was seen using products from her Blake Brown haircare brand, wrote over the clip. 

'Moment of truth: bun out after running around the city,' she continued, before almost running out the door with her pants unbuttoned.

Her post comes after she was in a legal battle with Baldoni, and the former costars settled right before their trial was set to begin. 

Baldoni was ultimately ordered to pay $400,000 of Lively's legal fees. 

Lively previously sued Baldoni and his production company Wayfarer in December 2024. 

Right before their trial was set to begin earlier this year, Lively was awarded just over $400,000 of the $8 million she sought in legal fees from their dispute due to his countersuit. 

In her lawsuit, Lively asserted that she was subjected to sexual harassment as well as retaliation, alleging he orchestrated a smear campaign to harm her reputation after she brought up complaints about his behavior on set.  

In response, Baldoni denied harassment and claimed Lively made complaints to seize creative control of the movie. 

In June 2025, the countersuit was thrown out. In May of this year, just two weeks before the scheduled trial date, the former costars reached their settlement.

They also released a joint statement, writing that they 'remain firmly committed to workplaces free of improprieties and unproductive environments.' 

§

Web hosting by Somee.com