Democrats in the House plan to bombard President Donald Trump with a slew of bills in the new year after defeating Republicans and gaining both the House and the Senate in the midterm elections this week.
CNBC reported on Wednesday that House Democrats were “planning to pass a flurry of bills as soon as they take the reins next January,” presumably under the leadership of current House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries.
President Donald J. Trump signs an Executive Order creating an anti-fraud task force to be led by Vice President JD Vance, Monday, March 16, 2026, in the Oval Office. (Official White House Photo by Molly Riley)
President Donald J. Trump, joined by Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, Physicist John M. Martinis, Science and Technology Policy Director Michael Kratsios, Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick, Secretary of Energy Chris Wright, OMB Director Russ Vought, and others, delivers remarks after signing an Executive Order on quantum computing in the Oval Office, Monday, June 22, 2026. (Official White House Photo by Joyce N. Boghosian)
“In their first 100 hours after being sworn in, House Democrats plan to introduce bills reinstating the enhanced health insurance subsidies that expired under the GOP-held Congress, and reversing the Medicaid cuts Trump signed into law earlier this year,” reported CNBC’s Kevin Breuninger, who added that Democrats in the House were also planning to launch bills that would reverse Trump’s controversial tariffs and reassert congressional control over other matters.
As for Trump’s disastrous war against Iran, CNBC reported that House Democrats would either “vote on legislation to end the war,” or “seek congressional authorization to keep it going.”
The New York Times reported similarly last month that House Democrats were planning “a shock-and-awe legislative sprint to demonstrate within hours of taking power that they are passing bills to deliver on their promises.”
Legislation Blitz Would Be Nothing More Than a ‘Symbolic Gesture’ Without Trump’s Support
With Trump firmly in control of the ability to veto all legislation for the next two years, however, Breuninger acknowledged that without the president’s approval, such bills would be nothing more than “symbolic gestures,” with the Democrats lacking enough of a majority to force the legislation through.
While Trump has already threatened to become “Mr. Veto” if Democrats try to bombard him with legislation without his blessing, the president has also said he’s willing to work with the opposition to advance bills with bipartisan support.
“It’s one of the stronger powers that a president has,” he told Fox News this week. “They’ll send over things that are insane, and I’ll veto them.”
The president explained, “And after a couple of months of vetoes, they’ll call, and they’ll say, ‘How do we get this stuff done?’ And we’ll work together… I have a lot of friends that are Democrats.”
Trump Has Demonstrated a Willingness to Work With Democrats in His Final Years
Indeed, less than a year into his second term in the White House, Trump demonstrated his willingness to work with officials on the other side of the aisle by praising New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani during a friendly meeting, which shocked and upset even the president’s most loyal supporters.
“We’re going to be helping him,” said Trump after the meeting, mere months after accusing Mamdani of being a communist. “We agree on a lot more than I would have thought.”
He added, “I think you’re going to have, hopefully, a really great mayor… The better he does, the happier I am.”
Trump and Mamdani met for the third time in September. During that meeting, the president slapped Mamdani’s back and praised his “potential.”
‘Lame Duck President’ Has Two Options: Become ‘Mr. Veto’ or Work With Opposition
In an analysis of Trump’s options following the Republican Party’s crushing defeat on Tuesday, Newsweek senior editor Shane Croucher suggested that the “lame duck president” could start working with Democrats to pass palatable legislation over the next two years.
“There is precedent for Trump working with Democrats despite his party colors,” Croucher noted, adding that such a move could result in Trump signing things “that outlast him and buy back some affection from the voting public.”
He concluded, “Trump can choose to be a lame duck fighting against the blue tide—or a lame Democrat that floats on it.”
GOP Wipeout in House and Senate
Trump’s Republican Party experienced a wipeout in the House and Senate on Tuesday.
Both chambers of Congress flipped blue, with Democrats gaining seven seats in the Senate and — as of reporting, with results still coming in — 30 seats in the House.
Democratic candidates also won several key gubernatorial races.
In Texas, Democratic challenger Gina Hinojosa defeated Republican Governor Greg Abbott, while in Ohio, Democrat Amy Acton defeated former Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries responded to the Democratic Party’s overwhelming victory by promising to curb Trump’s “out-of-control” White House.
“The days of the House functioning like a wholly owned subsidiary of the Trump Administration are over,” he wrote. “Congress will assume its place as a check and balance on an out-of-control executive branch.”
About the Author: Charlie Nash
Charlie Nash is a journalist and author whose work has appeared in The Spectator, Mediaite, New Statesman, and the American Conservative, among other major publications. His reporting has appeared in The Washington Post, Fox News, the Daily Beast, MS NOW, NewsNation, Hannity, and more. You can follow Charlie on X at @CharlieNash and on LinkedIn.
