Trump stated he would recognize midterm election results 'if they are fair'

Statement on the eve of the elections

US President Donald Trump stated on Tuesday, October 27, that he would recognize the results of the midterm elections 'if they are fair'. According to AFP's assessment, this appears to be another attempt to sow doubt just one week before voting. Trump has intensified his long-standing, unverified claims of widespread election fraud amid polls showing that Republicans could lose control of Congress on Tuesday, November 3. 'I will recognize them if the elections are fair,' Trump told reporters on his way to a campaign trip to Texas.

Veto and cooperation with the opposition

The 80-year-old president also cautiously promised to cooperate with Democrats if Republicans lose control of both the House of Representatives and the Senate. 'We will find a way. Listen, I have a strong veto. I hope this does not happen, but if it does, it has happened to many presidents before,' he said at Joint Base Andrews near Washington. 'You have a strong veto, and in the end, you work out deals.'

Campaign context

Republicans fear a 'blue wave' from Democrats: according to AFP data, voters are punishing them for inflation caused by rising oil prices following the start of 'Trump's war against Iran'. Over the past month, Trump has held nearly daily rallies across the country to mobilize his MAGA base, claiming that only he can prevent defeat. His third visit to Texas in a month reflects these concerns: polls show a tight race for a Senate seat in a state that has been reliably Republican for over 30 years.

Texas, Venezuela, and fraud allegations

Trump announced that on Tuesday in Texas, he would receive a 'gift' from Venezuela—a tanker carrying one million barrels of oil; Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro was ousted during a US military operation in January. He will be accompanied by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, a hardliner on Latin America who rarely appears in campaign events and, according to many, is preparing for the 2028 presidential race. In recent days, Trump has also intensified allegations of election fraud that have followed him since his 2020 defeat, after which his supporters stormed the Capitol on January 6, 2021, attempting to disrupt the certification of the results. Some critics fear that Trump is laying the groundwork to challenge the midterm election results or to declare a state of emergency. On Monday, he announced a $1 million reward for information leading to criminal convictions for election fraud.