Trump Plans ‘Mr. Veto’ Strategy to Bypass Congress if Republicans Lose Midterms

POLICY WIRE — Washington, D.C. — The White House has spent several months bracing for a scenario where Democrats take control of Congress. According to three individuals familiar with the strategy, the administration is developing plans to push President Donald Trump’s core agenda through executive authority while preparing for intense legislative scrutiny.

High-level aides, including budget director Russell Vought and deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller, have been collaborating with the White House Counsel’s Office since April. Their goal is to identify specific executive actions regarding immigration, tariffs, housing costs, and federal spending that Trump can implement without needing a vote from Congress.

White House counsel Will Scharf and his team are currently evaluating the legal boundaries of the president’s power. An administration official noted they are determining where Trump can stretch his authority and how to effectively defend those decisions if challenged in court.

These preparations underscore a complex dynamic of Tuesday’s midterm elections. While a Democratic victory would allow lawmakers to launch investigations, block new bills, and limit government spending, Trump would retain significant control over the federal bureaucracy, foreign policy, and trade—powers he has utilized extensively so far in his second term.

Trump indicated that if Republicans lose their majorities, he intends to use the veto for a month or two before seeking negotiations with opposition leaders. In an interview released Sunday on the New York Post’s Pod Force One podcast, Trump stated he believes he will become “Mr. Veto” and noted that deals would likely follow at some point.

To flip the chambers, Democrats would need a net gain of four seats in both the House of Representatives and the Senate to overcome current narrow Republican majorities of 218-214 and 53-47. While public polling suggests Democrats might take the House, the Senate race remains extremely competitive.

Throughout the last month, Trump has traveled the country for rallies to bolster Republican control. Meanwhile, his internal team is quietly planning for a significantly different legislative environment starting in 2027.

The White House dismissed reports of potential Republican losses and criticized media coverage on the matter. White House spokeswoman Lauren Bis stated that the administration and “commonsense Republicans” will continue to protect borders, maintain law and order, and provide financial relief to Americans.

The White House official mentioned that executive actions under consideration include new tariffs on critical minerals and wind turbine imports, tighter visa regulations for international students and temporary foreign workers, and efforts to reduce the cost of housing and construction.

One source indicated that federal agencies have already provided legal reviews and policy proposals for unilateral steps the administration could take. Vought, who heads the Office of Management and Budget, is also checking which projects can be funded using money previously approved by Congress. He also seeks to change federal grant rules to give political appointees more control over government programming.

Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)