United States President Donald Trump has dismissed suggestions that his leadership and policies contributed to the Republican Party’s poor performance in the midterm elections, blaming defeated candidates for failing to mobilise voters.

The election, which saw the Democratic Party gain control of both chambers of Congress on Tuesday, has raised questions about Trump’s political influence and the future direction of his administration.

Speaking during a live telephone interview with Fox News, Trump rejected suggestions that the outcome represented a setback for him.

“But I don’t view it as a hit on me,” he said, insisting that his administration had recorded significant achievements in the economy and other sectors over the past two years.

Trump attributed the Republican losses largely to the failure of individual candidates to mobilise their supporters, rather than dissatisfaction with his administration’s policies, including its military involvement in Iran and tariff measures blamed for contributing to rising prices.

He also criticised media coverage of Democratic candidates, particularly on Fox News, saying he had expected Republicans to perform better.

“I thought they’d do better,” he said.

The President further blamed what he described as the prevailing public mood for the outcome, while maintaining that his administration would continue pursuing its policy agenda despite the Democrats’ electoral gains.

During the election campaign, Trump visited several Republican-leaning states to rally support for party candidates, urging voters to turn out as though he himself were on the ballot.

However, he argued that the candidates failed to generate sufficient enthusiasm among their supporters.

“They just didn’t inspire the people to get out and vote,” Trump said, adding that their chances would have improved if he had been on the ballot.

Several unsuccessful candidates, including Darline Graham in South Carolina, Ken Paxton in Texas, Michael Whatley in North Carolina and Mike Collins in Georgia, had received Trump’s endorsement.

Defending his decision to support Paxton over incumbent Senator John Cornyn in Texas, Trump said he had little choice, arguing that Paxton had remained loyal to him.

In a post on his Truth Social platform, the President indicated that he intended to publicly examine the factors responsible for the Republican defeats.

He also criticised Texas Governor Greg Abbott, accusing him of returning to what he described as an unsuccessful political strategy.

However, in a separate interview with Politico, Trump said he was not interested in assigning blame, describing the election period as an experience from which he had learnt.

The President also expressed willingness to work with Democrats, who will now wield greater influence over legislative decisions in Washington.

He disclosed that he had already spoken with some Democratic politicians but did not identify them.

Trump said he had several Democratic friends and was open to finding common ground with members of the opposition party.

Meanwhile, he dismissed suggestions that he regretted the decision to launch military action against Iran, despite concerns that the conflict may have contributed to the Republican Party’s poor electoral performance.

In an interview with The Wall Street Journal, Trump maintained that the decision was justified, insisting that he would make the same choice again.

“I don’t think about it. I did the right thing,” he said. “I would have done it again.”

By Tony Edike

An Enugu State pensioner, Nze EC Aneke, has expressed profound joy and gratitude to Governor Peter Mbah after finally receiving his retirement gratuity, 19 years after leaving the local government service.

Aneke, who retired as a Head of Personnel Management (HPM) in June 2007, said he had waited nearly two decades for the payment, watching successive administrations come and go without fulfilling the obligation.

In an emotional video message, the retiree from Amokwe in Udi Local Government Area said he initially found it difficult to believe Governor Mbah’s promise to clear outstanding gratuity arrears, having heard similar assurances from previous administrations.

But on Monday, November 2, 2026, his doubts gave way to overwhelming excitement when a bank alert confirmed that his long-awaited gratuity had finally been paid.

“I retired as HPM in local government in June 2007. Since then, I have not been paid my gratuity. Many governors have come and gone. But now we have this efficient and, in fact, humane Governor, Dr Peter Ndubuisi Mbah,” he said.

Recounting the emotional moment, Aneke said he initially assumed the bank alert was for his October monthly pension.

“Recently, he promised that we would be paid our gratuity arrears. Personally, I thought it was just like previous governors who had been promising and failing. But suddenly, unexpectedly, yesterday, November 2, I got an alert from my bank.

“I was wondering; I thought it was our monthly pension for October. But behold, it was the arrears of my gratuity. Nineteen years plus! In fact, I couldn’t believe it. But it was real; it was true,” he recounted.

Overwhelmed by the development, Aneke praised Mbah for fulfilling his promise, saying the governor had accomplished what previous administrations failed to do.

“So I want to express my joy and happiness to His Excellency for showing us that ‘Our Tomorrow Is Here’, our tomorrow is now. May God bless him. He has done what his predecessors failed to do,” he said.

The retiree expressed confidence that other retired local government workers who had received their outstanding entitlements were equally celebrating the development in their homes.

He also prayed for God’s blessings, good health and a longer tenure for the governor.

In an emotional declaration of support, Aneke said he wished Mbah would remain in office until May 2031, urging the people of Enugu State, particularly retired pensioners and former local government workers, to appreciate the governor’s intervention.

Describing the payment as a dream that had finally become reality after almost two decades, Aneke said he wished to meet Mbah personally to shake his hand and express his gratitude.

“To God be the glory. I am happy for him. I wish I could see him face-to-face and shake him. In fact, I lack words to express my happiness.

“Thank you very much, and may God bless you, Your Excellency. Praise the living God!” he exclaimed.

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The Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, has taken a swipe at the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential candidate, Peter Obi, following revelations by the party about his health condition.

Onanuga said Obi had been confirmed to be human after all and could fall ill like any other person, adding that the former Anambra State governor was not a superman.

The presidential aide, while wishing Obi a speedy recovery, also predicted that he would lose the 2027 presidential election.

“So, Saint Peter Obi is not a Superman after all. He can fall ill like all mortals. I wish him a quick recovery so he can rejoin what looks like another doomed presidential campaign,” Onanuga wrote on X.

His comments followed a disclosure by the NDC Deputy Campaign Spokesperson, Sam Omale, that Obi had been physically exhausted by his demanding schedule and frequent travels between locations.

Omale, who spoke during an interview on Channels Television, dismissed concerns about the presidential candidate’s health, attributing his condition to exhaustion rather than any underlying medical problem.

He explained that Obi was deeply committed to his political activities and often handled multiple engagements simultaneously, leaving him with little time to rest.

According to him, members of the candidate’s team had been urging him to slow down and get enough sleep.

Omale also maintained that Obi’s exhaustion would not affect the party’s ongoing political activities and campaigns.

He said, “Sometimes I wonder where he gets his energy from. He is in London today and the following morning in Enugu. I’m wondering how he does it. Exhaustion comes in; he is a human being.

“He is in perfect health. There’s nothing wrong with him. It’s just exhaustion, and we are trying to calm him down to take a sleep. He is fine.”