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What can Trump do—and not do—with Congress in the hands of Democrats?

Headline from Global News · compiled from 6 sources

Our analysis · checked against 11 sources

Democrats projected to win both House and Senate; Trump keeps executive powers

Democrats are projected to win at least 258 of 435 House seats, up from 214 before the election, and at least 54 Senate seats, with Alaska and Mississippi uncalled. The new Congress is scheduled to convene Jan. 3, 2027; until then Republicans hold both chambers, and Trump keeps executive powers such as changing some regulations, including tariffs.

The framing"Hands of Democrats" does reflect projected majorities of at least 258 of 435 House seats and at least 54 of 100 Senate seats. But the new Congress is not scheduled to convene until Jan. 3, 2027, so Republicans still control Congress through a lame-duck session that includes a Dec. 11 funding deadline.

What the headline leaves out

  • Democrats are not seated until the 120th Congress convenes, scheduled Jan. 3, 2027; Republicans run the lame duck.
  • Scotiabank's Derek Holt said Republicans may expedite priorities, including tax measures and farm subsidies, before the handover.
  • House projections vary: NBC at least 258 seats, CNBC earlier at least 245, Jeffries 255 'if not more'.

What happens next

Congress faces a Dec. 11 government funding deadline. Derek Holt flagged a shutdown risk but called it unlikely, and said Republicans may seek to raise the debt ceiling first. The 120th Congress is scheduled to convene and elect a Speaker on Jan. 3, 2027, though that date could move because it falls on a Sunday. Watch the final calls in Alaska, Mississippi and the remaining House races.

Possible knock-on effects
  • Republicans losing control could push them to expedite tax, disaster, defence and farm-subsidy measures in the lame duck, and Trump may issue pardons. That may lock in policies before Democrats can push back, which matters to farmers, taxpayers and Democratic leaders. (named expert: Derek Holt, Scotiabank, cited by Global News. Watch for: Major bills passed or pardons issued between now and Jan. 3, 2027)
  • Democratic committee chairs could open investigations and issue subpoenas. That may put the administration on a defensive footing, as in 2019. (precedent: After the 2018 House flip, Democratic chairs opened inquiries in January 2019 and the House impeached Trump in December 2019. Watch for: Committee investigations or subpoenas announced in early 2027)

Sources: NBC News House results, CNBC midterm live updates (Nov. 3), 2026 US Senate elections (Wikipedia), Yahoo midterms live updates, Global News: US midterms, Democrats, Washington changes, Yahoo Canada: What can Trump do with Congress in Democrats' hands, WCNC: Democrats control House, Congress Countdown: new Congress, Quartz: Midterm election swings history, CNBC: Democrats 2026 midterm results (Nov. 4), WilmerHale: Lame duck, high stakes

Written in our own words from the sources above, and checked claim by claim before it was published. The report below says only what each outlet said.

The report: what outlets said

Global News reports that U.S. President Donald Trump will face an uphill battle in Washington, with the Democratic Party set to take control of both chambers of Congress in January[1]

NBC News projects that Democrats won the House with what could be their largest majority in nearly two decades[2]. The network has also projected that Democrats will flip the Senate.[2]Global News reports that experts expect little of what the administration has done so far will change anytime soon because of the power Trump still holds as president[1].According to Global News, an expert named Holt wouldn't be surprised if several major policies and priorities get expedited before Democrats have a chance to push back[1] during the lame-duck session. The outlet also reports that Holt wouldn't be surprised if Trump issued a long list of pardons[1].CBS News reports that Trump remarked that recent Supreme Court decisions have empowered him and his administration to wield expansive executive powers[3]. "The Slaughter case gives the president tremendous powers that it never had before," Mr. Trump said[3], according to CBS.LiveNOW from FOX reports that by winning the Senate, Democrats will for the first time gain the ability to block Trump's Cabinet and judicial nominees[4]. The outlet adds that Democrats are still far short of the 60 seats needed to overcome a filibuster[4].Al Jazeera quotes analyst Scott Lucas as saying that Democrats will now assume the chairmanships of all congressional committees, which have the power to launch investigations and subpoena witnesses[5].Newsweek reports that Democrats may be able to impeach Trump entirely with Democratic House votes[6].

Listen to the songUS News — November 05, 2026

Sources

  1. [1]What can Trump do—and not do—with Congress in the hands of Democrats? - National | Globalnews.ca
  2. [2]Democrats win control of the House of Representatives with a vow to combat Trump
  3. [3]Trump says he is prepared to use "tremendous powers" if Democrats take control - CBS News
  4. [4]Democrats win House and Senate - what this means for Trump's final two years | LiveNOW from FOX
  5. [5]Can Democrats stop Iran war, reverse Trump’s tariffs after midterms win? | US Midterm Elections 2026 News | Al Jazeera
  6. [6]Could Trump be Impeached Following Midterms? What Democrats Controlling Congress - Newsweek

Every sentence here reports what a named outlet said, with a link to it. Compiled by 93 from the reporting below.

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