Trump faces pressure from Republicans after midterm rout

US President Donald Trump came under mounting pressure from fellow Republicans on Wednesday after a crushing midterm election defeat handed Democrats control of both the House of Representatives and the Senate.

Voters rejected several of Trump's handpicked candidates while electing a historic number of women and minority politicians, delivering a setback that Iranian officials hailed as a rejection of his war policies.

Republican allies and strategists urged Trump to overhaul his White House team, restore discipline and scrap policies they blamed for the losses. It includes tariffs and the eight-month-old war with Iran, ahead of the 2028 presidential race.

Veteran Republican strategist John Feehery called the outcome a 'huge disaster', saying Trump “needs to clean house” as he becomes “more and more lame”. 

Vice President JD Vance, viewed as Trump's likely political heir, also distanced himself on Wednesday by blaming the Iran war for the defeats, a break strategists said could grow if Trump's grip on party voters weakens.

However, Trump showed little sign of changing direction, telling Fox News late on Tuesday, “I don't view it as a hit on me”. He acknowledged that the Iran war hurt Republican candidates but defended his decision to launch the conflict.

An anonymous senior White House official said morale was “as low as it can get” and “it absolutely sucks to be here right now” as aides braced for staff departures, Cabinet changes and Democratic investigations. 

The official added that internal polling warned six weeks ago of losses in both chambers, but Trump “just didn't care” and “refused to listen to anyone” on Iran.

Meanwhile, a Republican political adviser said summer focus groups in Michigan and Iowa opposed Trump's focus on the White House ballroom and Washington renovations. Yet on Wednesday, Trump took reporters to the ballroom construction site and defended the project as 'relaxing', while the White House posted 'PSA: TRUMP IS STILL YOUR PRESIDENT' on social media.

The Democrats are now able to block legislation, challenge nominees and launch probes that the official said nobody wants to deal with. Trump is expected to rely on prepared executive actions covering immigration, tariffs, housing and federal spending.

Tuesday's vote also reshaped US political leadership with milestone wins for underrepresented groups. 

In Texas, Democrat Gina Hinojosa unseated Governor Greg Abbott to become the state's first Latina governor, ending a 31-year Republican hold. Democrat James Talarico defeated Republican Ken Paxton in the Texas Senate race. Democrat Jon Rosenthal won a Texas Railroad Commission seat to become the first Jewish candidate elected to statewide executive office.

Elsewhere, voters elected Michigan's Abdul El-Sayed as the first Muslim US senator. New Hampshire's Chris Pappas as the first openly gay US senator, and Georgia's Keisha Lance Bottoms as the first Black female US governor.

New Mexico's Deb Haaland became the first Native American female governor, Xavier Becerra became California's first Latino governor, and Democrat David Crowley became Wisconsin's first Black governor-elect. 

Among Republicans, US Representative Byron Donalds became Florida's first Black governor. He prompted pro-Trump strategist Melik Abdul to note the irony of a Black man delivering the party's biggest win. Republicans spent a year linking diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives to Black people being unqualified.

Analysts and voter groups attributed the Democratic surge to economic frustration alongside dissatisfaction with the Iran war, tariffs, aggressive immigration enforcement and perceived corruption.

In Tehran, Iranian officials welcomed the US election outcome on Wednesday as regional and world leaders watched Washington's next move. 

Iran's chief negotiator and Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf wrote on X that 'Americans said NO TO WAR, and we endorse this message,' warning that ignoring voters' demand for change 'comes with a Nightmare'.

However, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei dismissed expectations that the vote would change Washington's policy towards Iran, as diplomatic efforts continued amid uncertainty over potential full-scale US military operations.

Sources: Reuters, UNB