Donald Trump wasted no time in dodging responsibility for decisive Republican losses Tuesday, offering alternate reasons for the defeats instead.
“‘TRUMP WASN’T ON THE BALLOT, AND SHUTDOWN, WERE THE TWO REASONS THAT REPUBLICANS LOST ELECTIONS TONIGHT,’ according to Pollsters,” the president wrote on Truth Social.
Trump’s post came minutes after it was announced that Democrat Zohran Mamdani had won the race for New York Mayor, a contest that had been fiercely fought with the Trump-backed former state governor Andrew Cuomo.
Elsewhere, New Jersey and Virginia also elected Democrats, with Mikie Sherrill and Abigail Spanberger winning their respective gubernatorial races. Spanberger made history as the first female governor of Virginia.
Trump’s claim that the government shutdown – which he and his administration continue to blame on the Democrats – was part of the reason for the results may well have been true.
In Virginia, there is a concentration of federal workers impacted by the government shutdown and the president’s sweeping layoffs of the federal workforce, which may have contributed to the election of Spanberger.
In New Jersey, where Trump endorsed the Republican candidate Jack Ciattarelli and held several tele-rallies on his behalf, voters still chose to stick with Sherrill and the Democrats.
Despite New York City being the president’s hometown, he remains widely unpopular in the Democratic stronghold.
His frequent comments and social media posts warning that the nation’s largest city would slip into ruin if Mamdani was elected mayor may have narrowed the race some, but his endorsement of Cuomo appears to have come too late.
As for his claims that his name not being on the ballot had altered the election results, fresh exit polls from NBC News showed that voters in all three states, as well as California, were dissatisfied with the president’s work so far.
Concerns about financial issues and the economy ranked highest, according to the outlet.
Asked how they felt about the way Trump was “handling his job as President,” the majority of respondents in all four states said they disapproved (55 percent in New Jersey, 56 percent in Virginia, 69 percent in New York, and 63 percent in California).
Shortly after his first post, the president fired off several more: “REPUBLICANS, TERMINATE THE FILIBUSTER! GET BACK TO PASSING LEGISLATION AND VOTER REFORM! President DJT,” he wrote.
In a separate but similarly worded post, he added: “Pass Voter Reform, Voter ID, No Mail-In Ballots. Save our Supreme Court from ‘Packing,’ No Two State addition, etc. TERMINATE THE FILIBUSTER!!!”
Trump’s comments were seized on by Democrats and critics, including his own niece, Mary Trump. “Raging narcissist claims that an election that rejected everything he stands for wasn't about him. Good try, Donald. Loser,” she wrote.
In remarks to CNN, liberal commentator Van Jones said that the decisive Democratic win was down to voters being “tired of the status quo.”
“Buyer’s remorse is real. Independents gave Republicans a shot. Latinos gave Republicans a shot. Black men gave Republicans a shot. They all tried it — and now they’re coming home,” he said.
“Tonight’s elections prove that people are tired of the status quo. At the end of the day, people’s basic rights are not being respected. And their basic needs aren’t being met. People don’t want more talk and more spin.
“Tonight’s elections in Virginia, New Jersey and NYC prove it: people are tired of the status quo. That’s why Mamdani won. And that’s why you are seeing this blue blowout.”
“Cry harder,” California congressman Ted Lieu. “Trump will never be on the ballot again. And Trump can reopen the Republican shutdown this week by stopping the Republican assault on healthcare and hungry kids.”
Trump damaged as Mamdani’s NYC mayor win tops huge night for Democrats: Live
Zohran Mamdani’s political positions, from Trump and ICE to Israel
Government shutdown now longest ever as Trump demands Republicans find solution
When Trump’s aid cuts robbed them of HIV drugs, these people died
What Zohran Mamdani’s wife has said about Gaza and ICE as he’s elected NYC mayor
‘Just like in London, hope won’: Khan celebrates Mamdani’s NYC mayoral victory
