"I have the ultimate power — it's called 'veto,'" President Trump told CBS News in an exclusive phone interview before polls closed across the country in this year's
, when asked about the prospect of a Democratic-controlled Congress next year.
asserted
polls → have → Congress
Mr. Trump says he is prepared to veto Democratic legislation if necessary, and he welcomes the moniker "Mr. Veto," in terms of describing his approach to Democrats, should they win a majority in the House or Senate.
asserted
they → say → House
Pollsters have been predicting some GOP losses and in late October, CBS News' polling suggested Republicans could be on track to
.Still, Mr. Trump remained optimistic on Tuesday when asked about the Republican Party's chances during the phone interview.
uncertain
Trump → predict → interview
And he said that regardless of the results and the makeup of Congress next year, he feels confident about his ability to pursue his agenda in the coming two years.
asserted
he → say → years
He remarked that recent Supreme Court decisions have empowered him and his administration to wield expansive executive powers inside the federal government even if Congress tries to block him.
asserted
Congress → remark → him
In the interview, Mr. Trump cited Trump v. Slaughter, a Supreme Court
from earlier this year that allowed him to fire Rebecca Slaughter, a member of the Federal Trade Commission, and said that 6 to 3 decision enables him to exert sweeping control over many federal agencies, boards and commissions, regardless of who holds majorities in the House and Senate.
asserted
who → cite → House
"We won the Slaughter case and the Slaughter case gives the president tremendous powers that it never had before," Mr. Trump said.
asserted
Trump → win → that
The president said that he plans to move forward his agenda next year in numerous federal areas with this ruling as part of the foundation for his coming executive actions.
asserted
he → say → actions
"The presidency, our presidency, is considered a strong presidency.
asserted
presidency → consider → ?
You can do a lot," Mr. Trump said.
asserted
Trump → do → lot
Mr. Trump also believes his veto power could eventually force Democrats to cut bipartisan deals with him, should they make gains.
uncertain
they → believe → gains
"Historically, you veto for a couple of months and then they come and say, 'We've got to make a deal,'" Mr. Trump said.
asserted
Trump → veto → deal
Mr. Trump's comments signal that there will likely be a dramatic showdown between the executive branch and Congress next year, should Democrats win majorities in each respective chamber, and he asserted that he could ramp up his use of executive power if Democrats try to constrain him on Capitol Hill.
uncertain
Democrats → signal → Hill
Two people close to Mr. Trump, who requested anonymity to discuss private conversations, said discussions over executive actions have taken place at the White House in recent weeks, with deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller and Office of Management and Budget Director Russell Vought central figures in those talks.
asserted
discussions → request → talks
The range of issues being considered for further executive action includes immigration and trade, the people said.
asserted
people → consider → immigration
One person close to the president said that "while Democrats may win power," Mr. Trump will "keep the power to do almost everything he wants" next year on trade, the border, managing the federal government and handling U.S. foreign policy and national security.
uncertain
he → say → policy
Regarding the
, Mr. Trump said he believes he did everything he could to help Republicans across the country in recent weeks, and said his efforts helped to recast the elections as a possible blue wave into something more competitive.
uncertain
efforts → regard → something
"If you remember, about 30, 40 days ago, people were saying it's going to be a big loss, and now people are talking about, like we could even win it," Mr. Trump said.
uncertain
Trump → remember → it
"I think the tour made a big difference.
asserted
tour → think → difference
I did 29 days, 33 of these things, and they were all massive rallies, they were big rallies.
asserted
they → do → things
No one has ever done anything like it.
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one → do → it
And I think we got the word out.
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we → think → word
I think we got the enthusiasm out, too."
asserted
we → think → enthusiasm
When asked about his motivation for his extensive tour of campaign stops, Mr. Trump said, "I just think that we're doing so well that I didn't want to see anything get in the way of what we've done," and he argued that the passage of last year's One Big Beautiful Bill Act and his efforts on trade are driving growth in different economic sectors.
asserted
passage → ask → sectors
The president did not make any firm predictions about Tuesday's outcome.
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president → make → outcome
"We'll have to see," Mr. Trump said, noting that most Election Days come with surprises and unforeseen developments.
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Days → have → surprises
"Will we win?
asserted
we → win → ?
We have a good chance.
asserted
We → have → chance
But we're not going to be embarrassed."
Mr. Trump spent part of Monday delivering a speech in front of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool in Washington, D.C., where he talked at length about his push to renovate, clean or rebuild key structures at the White House and around the capital.
asserted
he → go → capital
In the Tuesday interview, Mr. Trump said his speech was part of his desire to show the American people that he is using skills as a lifelong developer to redevelop Washington for their use.
asserted
he → say → use
"Obama criticized me," Mr. Trump said, referring to former President Barack Obama's
of Mr. Trump's activity.
asserted
Trump → criticize → activity
"But we had broken windows by the front door" at the White House, he said, and "it was such a sad thing to look at.
asserted
it → break → House
""It's the White House," Mr. Trump said.
asserted
Trump → say → ?
"You can't have an area where the stone is cracked and half-falling off the side of the wall.
asserted
stone → have → wall
And I fixed it.
asserted
I → fix → it
You know, I'm very good at that.
asserted
I → know → that
"I actually enjoy doing it," Mr. Trump said.
asserted
Trump → do → it
"A lot of people, that doesn't relax them, it makes them crazy, but with me, it relaxes me because I really do it well, and the White House is now pristine."
asserted
House → relax → it
When asked about what his focus is for 2027, in terms of renovations in and around Washington, the president said he expects to finish the
at the White House and to begin work on his proposed 250-foot arch, which has faced legal challenges.
asserted
which → ask → challenges
"I'll be finishing that," Mr. Trump said of the ballroom.
asserted
Trump → finish → ballroom
…and 5 more, not listed.
The Aporia
