On the eve of the midterms, President Donald Trump told Fox News viewers to treat Tuesday’s races as if his name were on the ballot, arguing his tax cuts and agenda hang on Republican control of Congress.
What Trump said Monday night
Calling into Sean Hannity’s Fox News show on Monday, Nov. 2, Trump said he was wrapping up a heavy stretch of campaigning. A full transcript from Roll Call’s Factba.se shows he told Hannity he had done 15 “tele rallies” that day and 12 the day before.
“I’m just asking everybody to pretend that I’m on the ballot,” Trump said. “And in a way, I am, because no tax on tips, no tax on Social Security for our great seniors, no tax on overtime, all the things that we’ve done, everything gets erased.”
He added: “They got to get out, pretend I’m on the ballot, do whatever you want, but we have to vote. If our people vote, we win in a landslide.”
Trump also claimed his second term has created “$25 trillion worth of wealth” and that the United States is again “the hottest country anywhere in the world.” Those are his claims. Democrats dispute his record on living costs and the Iran conflict.
What both sides are saying
- Republicans: Trump frames Tuesday as a referendum on keeping those tax breaks. House Speaker Mike Johnson told Wisconsin’s “UpFront” that “the polling is wrong” and that talk of a Democratic “blue wave” will not hold, according to WisPolitics.
- Democrats: House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries posted on X Monday, “Change is coming to the United States Congress.” Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer quoted a clip of Trump joking about renaming the Reflecting Pool and called it a “pathetic closing message,” citing the Iran war, corruption concerns and inflation.
Why it matters today
Voters decide control of Congress on Tuesday, Nov. 3. Ballotpedia notes Republicans hold a 53-47 Senate majority, counting two independents who caucus with Democrats. Democrats need a net gain of four Senate seats for control, because Vice President J.D. Vance breaks ties. In the House, Democrats need a net gain of three seats for a majority.
ABC News reported more than 57 million early votes cast as of Monday afternoon, citing the University of Florida’s Election Lab. CNN said Trump’s Monday telerallies used the same “pretend that I’m on the ballot” line he gave Hannity.
First mainland polls close at 6 p.m. Eastern. Neither party’s turnout claims can be checked until the votes are counted.
Author: Hisarak News Desk
Sources: Roll Call Factba.se Hannity transcript (Nov. 2, 2026); CNN Politics live updates; ABC News midterm live updates; Ballotpedia 2026 Congress results hub; WisPolitics (Johnson on UpFront); Hakeem Jeffries on X; Chuck Schumer on X
