White House prepares executive actions in case Democrats win Congress, Reuters reports; Trump says he would become "Mr. Veto"

The White House has spent months preparing for a possible Democratic takeover of Congress in Tuesday’s midterm elections, drawing up executive actions that President Donald Trump could take without congressional approval, Reuters reported on Sunday 1 November, citing a White House official and two people familiar with the plans.

Deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller and budget director Russell Vought have worked with the White House Counsel’s Office since April to identify possible actions on immigration, tariffs, housing costs and federal spending, the three people told Reuters on condition of anonymity. The White House official said options under consideration included new tariffs on imports of critical minerals and wind turbines, tighter visa rules for international students and temporary foreign workers, and measures aimed at lowering housing and construction costs.

According to Reuters, Vought is examining which priorities can go ahead using money Congress has already appropriated, and White House lawyers have been advising officials on how to handle congressional inquiries and subpoenas. Trump has been briefed on the preparations, the official said.

In an interview excerpt from the New York Post’s Pod Force One podcast released on Sunday, Trump said that if Republicans lost Congress he expected to issue vetoes for “a month or two” before reaching compromises. “I guess I’ll become Mr. Veto,” he said. “And then at some point, we’ll probably make deals.”

White House spokeswoman Lauren Bis said the administration “and commonsense Republicans will continue to secure our borders, restore law and order, putting more money back into the pockets of hard-working Americans, and deliver wins for the American people.”

Republicans hold 218-214 and 53-47 majorities in the House and Senate, and Democrats need a net gain of four seats in each chamber to take control, according to Reuters.

Earlier: Trump says he will respect midterm results ‘if they’re honest elections’ and points to his veto if Democrats win Congress.