Blaming Media and Candidates... Trump Posts Photo After Vowing to 'Cooperate'

[Anchor]

President Trump has shifted the blame for the election defeat onto the media and Republican candidates, drawing a line to distance himself from any responsibility. He has also flip-flopped, initially promising cooperation with the Democrats only to turn around and threaten to fight back using his veto power.

Reporter Jeong Seong-jin has the details.

[Reporter]

Ahead of the midterm election vote count, appearing to sense an election defeat, President Trump vented his frustration on his social media.

Targeting the pro-Republican Fox News, he criticized the hosts, saying he hated their voices, and publicly attacked them every hour, claiming that "the polls were always the worst" and that "viewership ratings dropped 27% because they oppose me."

He also evaded responsibility for the election defeat by claiming that he would have won overwhelmingly if he had been on the ballot.

[Donald Trump / U.S. President (Fox News DEMOCRACY 26): I wasn't on the ballot. If I had been on the ballot, those people (supporters) certainly would have turned out.]

Subsequently, as the Democrats' victory in the House became certain, President Trump said in a phone interview with The New York Times that he was entirely willing to accept the election results and was ready to cooperate with the Democrats.

However, about an hour later, he posted a photo on social media of a red hat bearing the word "VETO," which signifies his veto power.

Once it became certain that the Democrats would secure a majority in the Senate following the House, Trump once again signaled his intent to counter the Democrats by exercising his veto.

[Donald Trump / U.S. President (Fox News DEMOCRACY 26): The veto is one of the most powerful authorities a president has. I will veto the Democrats' ridiculous bills. Then the Democrats will call up and ask, 'How do we get things done?', and we will cooperate.]

President Trump reportedly watched the election broadcast at the White House alongside top aides, including Vice President Vance, Secretary of State Rubio, and Commerce Secretary Lutnick. The New York Times reported remarks from an attendee who described the atmosphere at the White House at the time as being "like a funeral."

(Video Journalist: Jeil | Video Editor: Kim Kyung-yeon | Design: Hwang Se-yeon)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.