President Donald Trump has threatened to veto legislation passed by a Democratic-controlled Congress, signalling a potential legislative standoff as Democrats prepare to take control of both chambers in January 2027.

Trump said he would use his presidential veto powers to block bills he considered unacceptable, predicting that repeated vetoes would eventually force Democratic lawmakers to negotiate with his administration.

“They’ll send over things that are insane, and I’ll veto them,” Trump said in an interview with Fox News following Tuesday’s November 3 midterm elections.

“After a couple of months of vetoes, they’ll call and they’ll say, ‘How do we get this stuff done?’ And we’ll work together,” he added.

The remarks followed major Democratic gains in the midterm elections, with the party winning control of both the House of Representatives and the Senate, ending Republican control of Congress and giving the opposition greater influence over the legislative agenda.

Despite the electoral setback, Trump congratulated Democrats on their victories but rejected suggestions that the results represented a rejection of his presidency.

Former President Barack Obama also welcomed the Democratic gains, describing the outcome as a reflection of voters’ demand for greater accountability and a different approach to governance.

Democratic control of Congress is expected to reshape legislative negotiations during the final two years of Trump’s presidency, particularly over federal spending, taxation, government funding and other major policy priorities.

The new congressional majority will also give Democrats control of key committees, greater authority over congressional investigations and oversight of the administration, as well as increased influence over the legislative calendar.

However, Trump’s veto powers could complicate efforts to pass legislation opposed by the White House. Under the US Constitution, the president can reject bills passed by Congress, although lawmakers can override a veto with a two-thirds majority in both chambers.

With Democrats preparing to assume control in January, the prospect of competing legislative priorities and presidential vetoes raises the risk of prolonged political and policy gridlock in Washington.