Trump Says He Will Become 'Mr Veto' If Democrats Win the Midterm Elections
US President Donald Trump has warned that if Democrats win the midterm elections and take control of Congress, he will use his veto power to block any bill they send him. He signalled that if Republicans lose their majority in the House of Representatives, the Senate, or both chambers, he intends to turn himself into 'Mr Veto'.
Trump made the remarks in an interview on the 'Pod Force One' podcast hosted by New York Post journalist Miranda Devine. Asked how he would handle a Democrat-controlled Congress, he said, 'I think then I would have to become Mr Veto. I will in no way let them destroy the country.'
Trump said he would reject outright any proposed bill sent by the Democrats. He added that, at some point, he would use that veto power to force them to come to the negotiating table.
The US president said, 'They will keep sending various proposals, and you will keep vetoing them. After one or two months of having all their proposals vetoed, when they realise that time is being wasted, they will come to you themselves, talk and reach a compromise.'
Trump said, 'Then at some point we might reach a deal. This has happened in the past too; it is nothing new.' He nevertheless expressed hope that Republicans would retain control of Congress, so that he would not have to take that path.
Since taking office for his second term, Trump has used his veto power only twice so far. During his first term, he vetoed a total of 10 bills.
The veto is the US president's power to reject a bill or law passed by Congress. However, if two-thirds of the members of both chambers — the House of Representatives and the Senate — vote in favour of the bill, the president's veto is overridden and the bill becomes law.
In the interview, Trump was also asked about the possibility of running for president a third time. He replied that he would love to run again if he had the opportunity, but that the wording of the constitution is very strict. He was referring to the 22nd Amendment to the US Constitution, which legally bars any person from being elected US president more than twice.
The important midterm elections are being held in the United States on Tuesday (3 November). Voters will elect members to all 435 seats of the House of Representatives and to 35 of the Senate's 100 seats.
Democrats are eager to win control of the House of Representatives, where Republicans currently hold a slim majority. Democrats need a net gain of at least three seats to take control of the House.
