Reuters: Republicans forced the Palace to change course, but Trump ignored them

The Democratic Party of the United States won a resounding victory in the midterm election. President Trump is facing internal and external pressure. In addition to the possibility that the Democratic-controlled Congress will launch impeachment and various investigations against him and other government officials, the Republican Party has begun to pressure Trump to change his course.

"Reuters" reported on the 4th that Republican allies and strategists are calling on Trump to reshuffle White House personnel, restore discipline, and cancel policies they believe led to his defeat, including the Iran war and tariffs, as Trump enters the final years of his presidential term.

Senior Republican strategist John Feehery called the election results a "huge disaster" for Trump. "Trump needs to shake things up, he's going to be more and more lame every day from now on," he said.

But Trump has shown little sign of seeing the election results as a reason to change course. In an interview with "Fox News" on the 3rd, he said: "I don't think this is a blow to me."

Democrats will now have the power to block Trump's legislation, investigate his administration and question his nominated officials. This is expected to prompt Trump, who has previously actively used executive privilege, to rely more on unilateral actions.

Trump must also decide whether to accelerate an agenda that some Republicans fear has become political baggage, especially for potential successors eyeing the White House in 2028.

Vice President Vance, who is regarded as Trump's political successor, seemed intent on keeping a distance from Trump on the 4th and blamed the midterm election defeat on the Iran war. Such breakups could become more commonplace if Republicans believe Trump's long-standing hold on the party's base is waning, Republican strategists and party officials said.

A senior official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said top aides within the White House are preparing for departures, a possible Cabinet reshuffle and Democratic investigations. "It's a terrible time to be here now, morale is at rock bottom," the official said.

The official said internal polling warned six weeks before the election that Republicans would suffer defeat in both the House and Senate, but Trump refused to change his stance on Iran despite warnings of the political consequences.

"The bottom line is, he just doesn't care, he refuses to listen to anyone," the official said.

Trump admitted on the evening of the 3rd that the eight-month war with Iran had hurt the Republican candidate's election, but he defended his decision to launch the war.

Republicans' concerns were not limited to war. In focus groups conducted this summer in hotly contested U.S. Senate districts in Michigan and Iowa, Republican political advisers across the country have become increasingly concerned as more Republican and independent voters express disapproval of the president's focus on the White House ballroom and renovations in Washington, one Republican political consultant said.

"If Trump continues to talk this nonsense for the next two years, we will lose miserably in the next election," the consultant said.

However, Trump convened reporters on the 4th for an impromptu visit to the White House Ballroom construction site and defended the time he devoted to the project. "It's a relief for me," Trump said.

The White House also publicly expressed defiance, posting a photo of Trump on social media with the text: "Announcement: Trump is still your president."

Trump still wields considerable power. Reuters previously reported that the White House has been preparing executive orders on immigration, tariffs, housing and federal spending for months that could allow him to advance parts of his agenda despite Democratic opposition.

But executive power cannot protect the government from congressional investigation. "No one wants to handle these investigations," the senior official said.