The new Democrat-led Congress may not begin its session until January, but Democrats are already beating the drums of war and drawing up battle plans, with many prominent members saying they would look into President Donald Trump’s deal-making over the last two years.
Trump, meanwhile, went on the defensive early, claiming that everything the president does is protected by executive privilege.
Donald Trump Sideview White House Photo
President Donald J. Trump participates in a pre-tape interview with Miranda Devine, Pod Force One, Friday, October 30, 2026, in the Red Room at the White House. (Official White House Photo by Abe McNatt)
Democrats Poised to Go Through Trump’s Dealings With a Fine-Tooth Comb
The Democrats plan to leave no stone unturned. Everything from Trump’s plans for the Kennedy Center, Donald Trump Jr.’s lavish and allegedly Russian-bankrolled island wedding, the administration’s agreements with pharmaceutical companies on drug prices, to the funds used for the construction of the White House’s new East Wing ballroom and more could be investigated.
Speaking to reporters after news of the Republicans’ midterm defeats, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries said that Trump’s days of using Congress as a “wholly owned subsidiary of the Trump administration are over,” adding, “We don’t work for Donald Trump. We work for the American people.”
Trump Defends with Executive Privilege As He Touts Veto Powers
As Democratic California Representative Robert Garcia posted, “LAWYER UP” on X, and Democratic Oregon Senator Ron Wyden followed up with “Subpoenas” on the social media platform, the Trump administration is expected to employ the same strategy it did during the president’s first term.
Democrats can expect the executive branch to delay congressional committees’ document requests and assert executive privilege over the president’s actions.
Even now, as the Trump administration grapples with a lawsuit filed by the American Bar Association over several punitive executive orders against law firms, the White House is invoking executive privilege.
Trump was also quick to dangle his veto powers, posting an image of his signature red cap emblazoned with the word “VETO” in large capital letters as it became clear that the Republicans would lose Congress. During a tour of the construction of the East Wing ballroom, Trump again touted his “power of the veto,” which he said he would use if the Democrats turned “destructive.”
Are Investigations Productive, Though?
With the Trump presidency almost halfway done and with only two years left, it remains to be seen if the Democrats’ muscle-flexing will bear any fruit.
The Supreme Court, despite its conservative supermajority, has shown it doesn’t always side with the president, and investigations can often take years to complete, as seen in inquiries into allegations against Trump during his first term.
This time around, many observers expect the Department of Justice to take a more active stance in defending the president and his administration, a tack Trump and his allies have never used before. The DOJ’s involvement could potentially make investigations even longer, experts say.
What’s Next For Republicans?
As the Democrats start drawing up their plans for the new Congress that begins next year, Republicans face a reckoning of their own, albeit one that would be largely internal.
The GOP’s leadership, for one, is up for grabs, as Republican Louisiana Representative and House Speaker Mike Johnson said that he has no plans to continue leading the party in the House once the Democrats take the majority.
Republicans will hold an internal election for House minority leader in a few days.
Fellow Republican Louisiana Representative Steve Scalise said in a letter to GOP colleagues that he is willing to take on the role Johnson will vacate.
“Last night’s election was far worse than any of us expected,” Scalise’s letter read. We fought hard and left it all on the field, but clearly, we were unable to defy history,” he added. “We will need to be honest with ourselves about what happened, but it is more important now than ever for us to emerge from this stronger and united because the stakes couldn’t be higher.”
Scalise faces competition from Republican Ohio Representative Jim Jordan, who also chairs the House Judiciary Committee. Jordan, a staunch Trump supporter, is making the case for being the best choice if the GOP wants to fend off the Democrats’ impending investigations of the president.
“I know the Democrats’ playbook.
I know what it will take to lead our Conference in the minority, to stay unified, and to coordinate and calibrate our response to the Democrats’ tactics,” read Jordan’s letter to colleagues.
About the Author: Tim Ramos
Tim Ramos has written for various publications, corporations, and organizations, covering everything from finance, politics, travel, entertainment, and sports – in Asia and the U.S. for more than 10 years.
