"Paralyzed By Silence": Journalists Describe Trump's State Of Mind After The Democrats' Victory

• 4.11.2026, 18:06

The U.S. president's inner circle has abandoned him.

The Republicans' defeat in the U.S. congressional midterm elections cast a shadow over the atmosphere in the White House. Donald Trump was furious and barely spoke to those around him, the newspaper The Daily Mail reported, citing a source.

“The atmosphere in the residence is very gloomy. The mood is oppressive,” one high-ranking official told the publication.

According to preliminary results, the Democrats have secured a majority in both chambers of the U.S. Congress: 241 seats in the House of Representatives and 54 seats in the Senate. A majority in the lower chamber requires 218 seats, and in the upper chamber, 51.

Trump became the first president in 20 years whose party lost both chambers of Congress in a midterm election. The last time this happened was to George W. Bush in 2006.

When the extent of the Republicans’ defeat became clear around 11:00 p.m. (7:00 a.m. in Minsk on November 4), Trump made no secret of his fury and barely spoke to those around him, the publication reports.

“He’s watching Fox News, barely saying a word, and seems paralyzed by silence,” a source close to the president told The Daily Mail.

As the extent of the defeat became clear, Trump’s supporters began leaving the party in the East Room of the White House, where they had been following the vote count. First, senior administration officials left, followed by some cabinet members. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who was present at the start of the evening, later disappeared from view.

By the time it became clear, shortly before 10:00 p.m. (6:00 a.m. in Minsk on November 4), that the Democrats had won the House of Representatives, the room had practically emptied. Some staff members left not only the party but also the White House, heading to nearby bars in Washington, according to The Daily Mail.