US voters delivered a major setback to President Donald Trump on Tuesday, handing control of the Senate to Democrats and rejecting several Republican candidates backed by him amid widespread concerns over rising living costs, his war against Iran and controversial tariff policies.
Democratic candidates captured Republican-held Senate seats in North Carolina, Ohio, Iowa, Texas, South Carolina and Kansas, where Trump had personally selected GOP nominees or campaigned to secure their victories.
The results marked a significant rebuke to Trump, who repeatedly urged voters to "pretend I'm on the ballot" while visiting mainly conservative states to support Republican candidates and warn against a Democratic-controlled Washington.
As he sought to make the midterm elections a referendum on his leadership, Trump also defended his tariff policies and the war with Iran, both of which contributed to rising prices.
A Democratic-controlled Senate will give the party greater authority to investigate the Trump administration and block its nominations for Cabinet positions and lifetime federal judgeships.
The election results will also shift political influence towards Capitol Hill, where Democrats are expected to seek greater oversight of Trump's administration after two years in which congressional Republicans largely supported his agenda.
In a Fox News interview aired early Wednesday, Trump attempted to distance himself from the Republican losses, saying Democrats had run good campaigns while blaming GOP candidates for their defeats.
The outcome leaves Trump with significantly weakened political standing both at home and internationally. He watched the election results at the White House alongside advisers and Cabinet members.
Although Trump had repeatedly urged voters to treat the election as a verdict on his presidency, he began shifting responsibility elsewhere as results emerged on Tuesday night.
"I wasn't on the Ballot and if I was, we would have won IN A LANDSLIDE!" he posted on social media.
Trump-backed Republican candidates suffer defeats
Several Republican candidates personally endorsed by Trump faced major challenges, particularly in Texas and South Carolina.
In South Carolina, Republican candidate Darline Graham, sister of the late Senator Lindsey Graham, lost to Democrat Annie Andrews after facing questions about her lack of political experience.
In Texas, Democrat James Talarico defeated Republican Ken Paxton, who had faced impeachment by fellow Republicans over corruption allegations and controversy surrounding his divorce.
Trump had backed Paxton instead of incumbent Republican Senator John Cornyn, whom he considered insufficiently supportive of his agenda.
Trump's pressure on Republican lawmakers also contributed to the retirement of incumbent Senator Thom Tillis in North Carolina following disagreements with the president. Trump subsequently endorsed his close ally Michael Whatley to retain the seat, but Whatley lost to Democrat Roy Cooper.
Republicans also suffered defeats in two Midwestern states affected by high diesel prices and Trump's tariff policies.
In Kansas, Democrat Adam Hamilton defeated Republican Roger Marshall, while Democrat Josh Turek defeated Republican Ashley Hinson.
In Ohio, Democrat Sherrod Brown reclaimed the Senate seat he lost two years ago by defeating appointed Republican Senator Jon Husted, despite repeated campaign visits by Trump and Vice President JD Vance.
Trump also frequently drew attention to Husted's physique, praising the former football player's build during campaign rallies in Ohio and other parts of the country.
Democrats retained a key Senate seat in Georgia, where their candidate Jon Ossoff defeated Republican Mike Collins, a close Trump ally who faced criticism over his alleged links to white nationalists and an unresolved House ethics investigation.
Trump had won all seven states — Texas, South Carolina, North Carolina, Ohio, Georgia, Iowa and Kansas — in the 2024 presidential election.
Republicans suffered another setback in Texas, where Democrat Gina Hinojosa defeated incumbent Republican Governor Greg Abbott, despite Trump's endorsement and repeated praise for him.
Trump later blamed Abbott for the defeat in a social media post, describing him as a "RINO", or Republican in name only.
Voters express dissatisfaction with Trump's economic policies
Trump's decision to put himself at the centre of the midterm campaign was a major political gamble. His team believed his involvement would motivate supporters of the Make America Great Again (MAGA) movement to turn out in large numbers.
Democrats, however, welcomed his extensive involvement, believing it would remind voters whom to hold responsible for the country's economic difficulties.
"Trump's desire to have everyone think that he's on the ballot? Like, it's happening," Democratic Senator Andy Kim of New Jersey said.
Kim, who campaigned in key battleground states, including Iowa, Georgia and Texas, added that voters were thinking about Trump and the harm his policies had caused them.
The AP Voter Poll, an extensive survey of the midterm electorate, found that relatively few voters viewed Trump's economic performance positively.
Around two-thirds of voters nationwide said his policies had worsened economic conditions in the United States, while only about three in 10 believed they had improved the economy.
Similarly, approximately two-thirds said Trump's tariff policies had harmed the national or local economy.
Voters also expressed largely negative views about Trump's broader priorities and leadership capabilities.
More than half said he was not a strong leader, did not represent people like them, lacked the right priorities and did not have the mental capacity to serve effectively as president.
Around six in 10 voters believed Trump prioritised his personal interests over those of the country, while about four in 10 said he placed the country's interests first.
Trump, who faced a Democratic-controlled House during the latter half of his first presidential term, campaigned aggressively in the final weeks to preserve Republican majorities in Congress, aware of the consequences of losing control.
At times, however, he appeared to downplay the possibility of Republicans losing their congressional majority. He is also aware that political opposition can help consolidate support within his party and boost fundraising.
Democrats prepare investigations as stakes rise for Trump
As Democrats anticipated securing control of at least one chamber of Congress, senior party leaders had already outlined their priorities for investigations into the Trump administration, the conduct of its officials and relationships between government representatives and private corporations seeking influence in the White House.
Their planned areas of scrutiny include business dealings involving Trump's family, the administration's handling of the Jeffrey Epstein investigation and broader allegations of corporate corruption.
A Democratic majority would give the party control of congressional committees, larger budgets, additional staff and subpoena powers, enabling lawmakers to compel the administration to respond to congressional inquiries.
The White House, however, could revive tactics used during Trump's first administration, when officials delayed responding to congressional requests for documents and testimony and invoked executive privilege to withhold certain information.
Trump is also preparing for major legislative battles with a Democratic-controlled Senate, saying he has a "strong veto".
On Tuesday night, he posted a photograph of his signature red baseball cap bearing the word "VETO".
