# Democrats sweep Congress, leaving Trump a lame duck

> Donald Trump faces two years of political powerlessness after Democrats won control of both houses in the midterm elections.
- Title: Democrats sweep Congress, leaving Trump a lame duck · RFI
- Summary: Donald Trump faces two years of political powerlessness after Democrats won control of both houses in the midterm elections.
- Keywords: donald trump, democrats, republicans, us congress, midterm elections, house of representatives, senate, lame duck president, abdul el-sayed, troy jackson, adam hamilton, josh turek
- Source: RFI — https://rfi.fr/en/international/20261104-democrats-sweeps-congress-leaving-defiant-trump-a-lame-duck-president
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: donald trump, democrats, republicans, us congress, midterm elections, house of representatives, senate, lame duck president, abdul el-sayed, troy jackson, adam hamilton, josh turek
## Democrats win both houses
Democrats won 228 seats in the 435-seat House of Representatives after Tuesday's nationwide vote, against 139 for Republicans, with 68 still being counted.
## Senate control secured
Democrats secured at least 54 seats in the 100-member Senate, laying bare the scale of Trump's political humiliation in the midterm elections.
## Trump becomes lame duck
The Democrats' sweep will turn Trump into a lame-duck president, unable to push his policies through Congress for the next two years.
## Trump's remaining powers
Trump will keep his power to veto legislation passed by Congress and will remain commander-in-chief of the armed forces despite the Democratic sweep.
## Trump posts defiant message
In a show of defiance, Trump posted a picture on social media of a red baseball cap bearing the slogan VETO after the election results.
## What Democrats can do
When they formally take control of Congress on 3 January 2027, Democrats will block legislation, open investigations into the Trump administration and thwart his appointments.
## Voters rejected Trump's policies
Results reflected voters' concerns over rising prices, Trump's use of tariffs against trading partners and the war with Iran during his presidency.
## Trump concedes defeat
In an interview with Fox News, Trump conceded his party had been beaten. I think the Democrats did a good job. They fought hard, he said.

> I think the Democrats did a good job. They fought hard.
## Democrats win Republican strongholds
Democrats won in Republican strongholds including South Carolina, North Carolina, Iowa, Kansas, Ohio, Texas and Maine in historic upsets.
## First Muslim senator elected
In Michigan, Abdul El-Sayed defeated Mike Rogers to become the first Muslim elected to the US Senate in American history.
## Key takeaway

Democrats won control of Congress in midterm elections, making Trump a lame-duck president unable to pass legislation for two years.