Trump Says Veto Power and Court Ruling Will Let Him Govern Without Congress

President Donald Trump said he intends to rely on his veto power and recent court rulings to advance his agenda after Democrats won control of both chambers of Congress, according to an interview with CBS News described in a report by the Western Journal.

As of 6:41 a.m. Eastern, the Western Journal reported that The New York Times had Democrats at 228 House seats and 54 Senate seats, enough to control both chambers but not enough to override a presidential veto. Vote counts were still being finalized at the time.

“I have the ultimate power — it’s called ‘veto,'” Trump told CBS News as polls closed, according to the Western Journal’s account. The network also reported that Trump said he “welcomes” being referred to as “Mr. Veto.”

The Western Journal said CBS News noted that Trump has pointed to recent Supreme Court decisions as evidence that his executive authority has expanded, even if the new Democratic majorities try to block him. In the interview, Trump referenced a case he called Trump v. Slaughter, which the Western Journal described as a 6-3 ruling earlier this year permitting him to remove Federal Trade Commission member Rebecca Slaughter.

“We won the Slaughter case and the Slaughter case gives the president tremendous powers that it never had before,” Trump said, per the Western Journal’s recounting of the CBS interview.

Trump said he views the presidency as inherently powerful regardless of which party controls Congress. “The presidency, our presidency, is considered a strong presidency,” he told CBS News, according to the Western Journal. “You can do a lot.”

He also suggested that vetoing legislation could eventually force Democrats into negotiations. “Historically, you veto for a couple of months and then they come and say, ‘We’ve got to make a deal,'” he said.

An unnamed White House official told CBS News, as reported by the Western Journal, that the midterm results would not change the president’s agenda and that Trump would “keep the power to do almost everything he wants,” particularly on immigration and national security.

Trump also confirmed he will continue with ongoing renovations to the White House, including a ballroom project that has drawn criticism. “I actually enjoy doing it,” he said, according to the Western Journal’s account. “I’ll be finishing that… It’s a ballroom and military complex.”