US President Donald Trump has described the mid-term election results as a "tremendous success," even as his Republican party lost control over the House of Representatives.
"Tremendous success tonight. Thank you to all!" the president said on Twitter, his only remarks after projections came in.
The House of Representatives will flip to the control of the Democrats while Trump's Republicans have retained control over the Senate.
The projections were largely in line with polling ahead of election day on Tuesday, which predicted a split Congress.
Trump spent election night watching returns with family and friends at the White House, his shadow looming large over the results.
His closest aides tried to focus him on the positives.
Working on just a few hours' sleep after a heavy final day of campaigning, Trump spent much of Tuesday on the phone, checking in with friends and advisers, talking to state and national Republican Party officials and White House aides to get a picture of what to expect.
What he heard from them was that Republicans would likely lose control of the House of Representatives but hang on to control of the Senate, adding seats to its majority there.
So when word came in that the projections were broadly correct, it did not come as a shock.
"It's disappointing but it's not surprising," said Trump senior adviser Kellyanne Conway.
The House loss meant Trump will face investigations into his tax returns, his businesses and his administration by Democratic lawmakers. His legislative agenda, including a vague proposal for a middle-class income tax cut, is likely stalled.
One adviser said the president was probably not prepared for the onslaught of investigations that Democrats were likely to launch.
"I don't think he fully comprehends what this means by giving the gavel to (Democratic House leader) Nancy Pelosi and her cronies," the adviser said, asking to remain unidentified.
Some Trump advisers were already anonymously assigning blame for the expected loss of more than 30 House seats, focusing on Corry Bliss, head of a political action committee that distributed money to House Republican candidates, and Republican National Committee Chair Ronna McDaniel.
There was also grousing about House Speaker Paul Ryan, who announced plans to resign at the end of the year instead of leaving sooner.
But there was some satisfaction among Trump and his aides that the losses were not as bad as had been projected by strategists who said a Democratic "blue wave" would take away 40 House seats.
Share
