President Donald Trump on Wednesday acknowledged that Republicans suffered a disappointing Election Day, suggesting that the ongoing government shutdown played a major role in Democrats’ decisive victories across multiple states.
Speaking to a group of Republican senators at the White House, Trump said that Tuesday’s results — which included Democratic wins in New Jersey, Virginia, Pennsylvania, Georgia, and a high-profile mayoral contest in New York City — were a sign that the shutdown was taking a toll on the public’s perception of the GOP.
“Last night, it was not expected to be a victory. It was very Democrat areas,” Trump said. “I don’t think it was good for Republicans. I’m not sure it was good for anybody. But we had an interesting evening, and we learned a lot.”
Trump noted that while he was not on the ballot this year, his political standing and the administration’s ongoing standoff in Washington were clearly part of the backdrop. He pointed to polling that suggests more voters hold Republicans responsible for the shutdown, which entered record territory this week as the longest in U.S. history.
A national NBC News survey released Sunday found that 52 percent of voters blame Trump and Republicans for the shutdown, compared to 42 percent who say Democrats are at fault.
In New Jersey, Democrat Phil Murphy won reelection in the governor’s race, while in Virginia, Democrats not only secured the governorship but also made gains in down-ballot legislative contests. Democrats also prevailed in several competitive races in Pennsylvania and Georgia, and in New York City, Democrat Zohran Mamdani — a member of the Democratic Socialists of America — won the mayoral race despite late efforts by Trump to sway voters toward former Gov. Andrew Cuomo.
Trump did not personally campaign in New Jersey or Virginia this cycle. While he formally backed New Jersey Republican candidate Jack Ciattarelli, he notably did not issue a direct endorsement for Virginia Republican nominee Winsome Earle-Sears, leading some GOP strategists to question the impact of his limited involvement.
During Wednesday’s meeting, Trump urged Senate Republicans to take a more aggressive legislative stance going forward. He renewed his push to eliminate the Senate filibuster — the rule that requires most legislation to receive 60 votes rather than a simple majority — arguing that the GOP must act boldly if it hopes to regain momentum.
The discussion comes at a politically precarious moment for Republicans, who now face mounting pressure to resolve the government shutdown while also assessing the broader implications of this week’s election results. Several senators in attendance described the meeting as tense but candid.
