Trump was 'joking' about cancelling midterm elections: White House

ISTANBUL

The White House said Thursday that President Donald Trump was joking when he suggested America should not hold midterm elections in November, dismissing concerns over recent remarks.

"The president was simply joking. He was saying, 'We're doing such a great job. We're doing everything. The American people thought maybe we should just keep rolling,'" spokesperson Karoline Leavitt told reporters, commenting on his exclusive statements to news agency Reuters.

Trump "was speaking facetiously," Leavitt added.

On multiple occasions, Trump has acknowledged a historical trend where the party in power typically loses seats during midterm elections, expressing frustration that the pattern persists even when an administration has had a "successful year."

He urged House Republicans to maintain unity ahead of the 2026 elections, warning that Democrats would impeach him if the party loses congressional control.

The 2026 midterm elections in the US are scheduled for Nov. 3 and will determine all 435 House seats and 33 Senate seats.