US President Donald Trump has expressed confidence that Republicans will perform well in Tuesday’s crucial midterm elections, dismissing unfavourable opinion polls as “rigged” and warning that America would be “finished” if Democrats returned to power. He also threatened to block Democratic legislation and suggested he could issue pre-emptive pardons to protect members of his administration and political allies from future investigations.

Speaking to New York Post journalist Miranda Devine at the White House, Trump discussed the November 3 elections, his political future and how he intends to govern if Republicans lose control of one or both chambers of Congress.

The 80-year-old president, who has held 26 campaign rallies over the past month, insisted that the size of his crowds was a more reliable indicator of Republican support than opinion polls.

“I think they’re rigged. I think a lot of these polling companies don’t even send people out to conduct surveys. They collect a big cheque, claim they have 1,000 pollsters across the country, and then sit behind a desk,” Trump said.

He added that he did not personally know anyone who had participated in an opinion poll.

“Maybe they’re not asking Republicans. But I think we’ll do pretty well. I can tell from our rallies, which are as big as they’ve ever been,” he said.

Polling suggests Democrats are in a competitive position to regain control of the House of Representatives, while the battle for the Senate remains considerably more uncertain.

Despite his demanding campaign schedule, Trump maintained that he was not experiencing fatigue.

“There’s so much love in the room or in the stadium that, in a way, it becomes easy. It actually gives you energy. You see the love and respect from the people, and you know the country is doing so well. Real people know that,” he said.

Trump: If we lose the House, the Senate, and the presidency, our country is finished. https://t.co/QJLBwRCl3K

— Clash Report (@clashreport) November 2, 2026

‘If we lose to the Democrats, this country is finished’

Asked about his political future and who he would like to succeed him, Trump declined to endorse a particular candidate.

“I just want somebody who’s going to be fantastic, because if we lose to the Democrats, this country is finished,” he declared.

The president accused Democrats of pursuing immigration and tax policies that he claimed would devastate the United States.

“They’ll let millions of illegal immigrants come in. They let 25 million people come in, and we’ve removed a lot of them. We’ve removed most of the really dangerous ones,” he claimed.

“They want to raise taxes. They want to do all these things that will destroy America.”

Trump went further, warning about the consequences of Democrats controlling both Congress and the White House.

“If we lose the House, the Senate and the presidency, our country is finished. Because you’re dealing with crazy people,” he said.

His remarks came as Republicans sought to defend their congressional majorities in elections widely regarded as an important test of public confidence in the president halfway through his second term.

Trump also acknowledged that he would like to run for president again, despite the 22nd Amendment to the US Constitution, which prohibits anyone from being elected to the presidency more than twice.

Trump: I will become Mr. Veto if the Democrats win. https://t.co/ZIhNUUSt3P

— Clash Report (@clashreport) November 2, 2026

‘I guess I’ll become Mr Veto’

Although Trump insisted that Republicans would defy the opinion polls, he acknowledged the possibility of having to govern alongside a Democratic-controlled Congress.

In that scenario, he made clear that he would not abandon his political agenda. Instead, he suggested he would rely heavily on presidential executive orders and his constitutional power to veto legislation passed by Congress.

“I think we’re going to do great. But if we don’t win, I’ll veto everything. I’ll be vetoing, vetoing,” Trump said.

“I guess I’ll become Mr Veto,” he added.

The president indicated that repeated vetoes could prevent Democrats from advancing their legislative priorities, potentially forcing them to negotiate with the White House.

However, he did not rule out reaching agreements with the opposition.

“And then at some point, we’ll probably make deals,” he said.

The prospect of divided government presents a significant challenge for Trump. If Democrats regain control of the House, they could obstruct parts of his legislative programme, scrutinise federal spending and launch congressional investigations into his administration.

A Democratic majority in the Senate would also give the opposition greater influence over presidential appointments and the confirmation of senior officials and federal judges.

According to Reuters, the White House has already been exploring ways to continue implementing Trump’s agenda through executive authority if Democrats take control of Congress, including measures relating to immigration, tariffs and federal spending.

Trump: Biden gave everybody a pardon. Q: Will you do that? Trump: I would if I needed to. I wouldn’t even think about it. I did for J6. https://t.co/QEqU55dMWT

— Clash Report (@clashreport) November 2, 2026

Trump considers pre-emptive pardons for allies

Trump was also questioned about warnings from Democratic politicians that a change in congressional control could trigger investigations into the president himself, members of his family, cabinet officials, political associates and even billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk.

The president suggested he was prepared to take steps to protect individuals who had served in his administration.

“If they do that, we’ll just have to protect those people,” he said.

He also left open the possibility of issuing pre-emptive presidential pardons, similar to those granted by his predecessor Joe Biden towards the end of his presidency.

“I would do it if necessary, absolutely. I wouldn’t even think about it. I would do it. I did it for January 6,” Trump said, referring to his decision to grant clemency to people convicted of offences connected with the January 6, 2021 attack on the US Capitol.

Such pardons could become a significant political controversy if Democrats regain control of Congress and seek to investigate actions taken by the Trump administration.

Presidential pardon powers apply to federal offences, but do not prevent congressional investigations or extend to offences prosecuted under state law.

With Americans heading to the polls on Tuesday, Trump’s remarks underline both his confidence in a Republican victory and his preparations for a potentially difficult final two years in office if Democrats succeed in taking control of Congress.