Trump sets stage ahead of midterm elections: 'Mr. Veto' if Congress falls to Democrats, returning all legislation
In an interview with the New York Post on November 1, Trump said that if Democrats secure a majority in Congress, he might become “Mr. Veto”—rejecting every bill sent to him, with the expectation that lawmakers would eventually return to negotiations after a few months.
Trump stated that should Democrats control Congress following the midterms, he would obstruct their legislative agenda by consistently exercising presidential veto power, treating the veto as a bargaining tool to force concessions. “They’ll keep sending bills. You just veto them. After a month or two, once every proposal has been rejected, they’ll come back to negotiate with me,” he said.
The presidential veto allows the president to reject legislation passed by Congress; overturning a veto requires a two-thirds majority in both chambers, a threshold that is rarely achieved in practice. During his first term, Trump issued 10 vetoes; in his second term to date, he has used the veto only twice. His recent remarks signal an intention to significantly intensify veto activity should opposition parties gain control of Congress.
Previously, Trump has asserted that he would respect election outcomes if they are fair and emphasized that his veto authority would still allow for eventual negotiation. Moreover, even if Democrats win, new members of Congress will not take office until January of the following year, limiting immediate constraints on the White House.
Tomorrow is election day. The outcome will determine whether this “Mr. Veto” strategy is merely campaign rhetoric—or the outline of an actual governance approach.
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1880705764551680/
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