Barack Obama has used the Democrats’ midterm election victory to attack Donald Trump, saying American voters had sent a “clear message” to the White House by handing his party control of both chambers of Congress.
The former president said voters wanted “a politics that brings people together rather than divides them” after Democrats flipped six Senate seats and at least a dozen Republican-held House districts.
Obama, who campaigned for Democratic candidates during the election, praised what he called “outstanding candidates” who were united by shared values, public service and a commitment to putting their constituents first.
“While this administration has another two years in office, our job now is to roll up our sleeves, make changes wherever we have the power to do so, prevent further damage, and lay the groundwork for the future,” he said in a statement.
The result represents a major setback for Mr Trump as he enters the final two years of his presidency. Among the most unexpected defeats was in Texas, where Democrat James Talarico defeated Trump-backed attorney general Ken Paxton.
Democrats also won Senate seats in Kansas and South Carolina, ending lengthy Republican winning streaks in all three states.
The party made gains in governors’ races, too. Texas Governor Greg Abbott was defeated by Democrat Gina Hinojosa, while Vivek Ramaswamy lost his bid to become governor of Ohio.
In Georgia, former Atlanta mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms defeated Republican Rick Jackson to become the first black woman elected governor in US history.
Republicans retained the governorship in Florida, where Trump ally Byron Donalds defeated Democrat David Jolly. Senator Ashley Moody also held her seat.
Mr Trump sought to distance himself from the scale of the Republican losses, writing on Truth Social: “I wasn’t on the ballot, and if I was, we would have won in a landslide.”
Obama had campaigned for Sherrod Brown in Cleveland and Abdul El-Sayed in Detroit on October 24, before travelling to Georgia four days later to support Jon Ossoff and Ms Bottoms.
During the campaign, he also mocked the White House renovations carried out under Mr Trump. Speaking to supporters in Ohio, Obama said: “He’s got the White House looking like Saddam Hussein opened a Cheesecake Factory.”
Mr Trump defended both the renovations and the restaurant chain. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent joined the exchange during a television interview outside a Cheesecake Factory in Washington, praising his meal and recommending it to “the Martha’s Vineyard set”.
The dispute continued into election night, when White House staff ordered Cheesecake Factory takeaway for their results-watch party.
