Midterms 2026: during his first public appearance after the elections, Donald Trump talks… about his ballroom

Lunar scene at the White House. Donald Trump summoned the press on Wednesday to praise in situ the construction of his ballroom, “the most beautiful in the world I think”, the day after the disastrous mid-term elections for his camp.

Without mentioning this election at all, the American president, not seeming to be disturbed by frequent feedback, launched into a long description of the project, talking about the vein of the marble and the location of the kitchens, in a moment which is already among the strangest of his second term. The sequence lasted more than 20 minutes, according to journalists on site.

In support of Pete Hegseth

Finally questioned by the press about the rout of his party, Donald Trump admitted that the war with Iran had largely contributed to the debacle, after Vice-President JD Vance called on Republicans to be “honest” about the political cost of this unpopular conflict.

Asked by journalists about JD Vance's comments that the war was "the reason for (the) defeat", Donald Trump replied: "I think that's largely true because it caused gas prices to go up a little bit in the short term." “But at the same time, if I had to do it again, I would do it because in the long term, it’s the only solution. We cannot let Iran have nuclear weapons,” he added.

He also assured Wednesday that his Defense Minister Pete Hegseth had done a “very good job”. Asked about a possible impeachment in the wake of the crushing defeat of his Republican camp in the mid-term elections, the billionaire said: “I think it would destroy the Democratic Party if they did that,” adding that there was “no reason” to impeach him.