As Republicans faced a major setback in the midterm elections, President Donald Trump chose a different subject for his November 4 remarks. He used the opportunity to highlight the White House ballroom project and his other Washington, D.C. developments.
Trump focused on his White House ballroom plans instead of addressing his party’s devastating midterm losses
Trump addressed the reporters while standing at the ballroom construction site outside the White House, the WSJ reported. He said, “This is…structurally the most powerful building they say ever built, and it was designed that way so the president can have safety.” Adding, “It’s been the dream of presidents to have a ballroom for 150 years.”
Trump went on to discuss other projects designed to improve Washington’s appearance. He pointed to the helipad recently installed on the White House’s South Lawn. The president also brought up the National Garden of American Heroes and the reflecting pool on the National Mall.
The election results saw widespread Republican losses, including among Trump’s hand-picked candidates. However, the president did not acknowledge any responsibility for the Democrats’ success. Republicans suffered significant losses, allowing Democrats to make major gains in the Senate. The victories came in states that had long been considered Republican strongholds. South Carolina and Kansas were among them. Democrats also made gains in Texas after more than three decades.
Before the final election results were even in, Trump insisted that Republicans would have secured victories if his name had been on the ballot, CBS News reported. He acknowledged the Democrats’ performance, saying they had done a “good job.” He added that they had “fought hard” and had been doing so “for a long time.”
The president also offered his take on why Republicans suffered defeats, saying, “In some cases they didn’t like the candidates, and in some cases those candidates were not my friend and the base knows that better than anybody.”