The White House · Report · File No. 261109-334
Trump says U.S. took 'giant step back' as Miller starts as chief of staff
President Trump blamed the election results and a stock sell-off in a Sunday post, while his White House moved toward a harder line. Democrats say they will use their new majorities to investigate and to push cost-of-living bills.
Every quote in this story (2) was matched word for word against its source. How we work

President Trump said Sunday that the country took a step backward because of the midterm elections. In a Truth Social post, he wrote that "America took a giant step back in History with the results of the last Election" 2. He posted as he headed out to play golf 1.
Trump tied the loss to Wall Street. He wrote that the stock market took a one-day, $3 trillion loss, and added, "But have no fear, we will be back, BIGGER AND STRONGER THAN EVER BEFORE!" 12.
CBS News reported that stocks rose Wednesday on the election results. They fell Thursday in a steep tech sell-off and bounced back Friday 1.
America took a giant step back in History with the results of the last Election
A harder line inside the White House
Stephen Miller, a hardline aide, is due to start Monday as White House chief of staff 2. The Guardian reported that his promotion has raised expectations of a tougher immigration crackdown and no concessions to the new Democratic majority in Congress 2.
From Channel GOPHakeem Jeffries on corruption after the midtermsHakeem Jeffries · 1.4K plays · captioned, with the source named
Dan Eberhart, a Trump donor and energy executive, told Reuters the move signals a "fighting-from-a-bunker approach the last two years" 2.
On Saturday, Trump said he had offered UFC chief Dana White the press secretary job. That post has been largely vacant since Karoline Leavitt left this summer, The Guardian reported 2.
Investigations and warnings
Trump also said he had ordered the Justice Department to look into Democrats planning oversight of his administration and family 2. Attorney General Todd Blanche told CNN there could be investigations. He said Republicans have faced dangerous threats but did not say what crimes he believed had been committed 2.
Rep. Robert Garcia, a California Democrat expected to chair the House Oversight Committee, said probes could examine Elon Musk's role in last year's mass firing of federal workers. They could also cover Miller's role in the immigration crackdown 2.
Sen. Elizabeth Warren, a Massachusetts Democrat slated to lead the Senate Banking Committee, said she wants to investigate "anyone who's been cheating." She also said she will work with the administration on capping credit card and housing interest rates 1.
House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries said he has not yet spoken to Trump. He listed ending the Iran war, ending the president's tariffs and reversing Medicaid restrictions as Democratic priorities 1.
The country clearly has had enough, and we've got to fight for an affordable America.
What happens next
Democrats take control of Congress in January. Until then, Republicans still run both chambers. Rep. James Comer, the Kentucky Republican who chairs House Oversight, said the panel will spend the last two months of this Congress investigating Alaska over its Senate race 2.
That race is not settled. Democrat Mary Peltola holds a slim lead over Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan, and Alaska's ranked-choice tabulation is set for Nov. 18 1.
The pattern is that Trump is answering a voter rebuke with a tougher team and threats of investigation. Democrats say voters want lower costs. Which side gets its way will decide whether the next two years bring gridlock or bills on prices and health care.
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Sources
- CBS News, “Trump says U.S. took a "giant step back in history" with midterm results” (2026-11-09). cbsnews.com/live-updates/midterm-election-results-2026-democ
- The Guardian, “Trump set to lurch further right, claiming US took 'giant step back' in elections” (2026-11-08). theguardian.com/us-news/2026/nov/08/trump-midterm-elections-
Found an error? Tell the newsroom. Corrections are noted at the top of the story.
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