Congress returns to Washington as Democrats prepare to take control in January
Lawmakers are returning to Capitol Hill Monday as Democrats prepare to take control of Congress in January following historic Republican losses in the midterm elections.
(NBC)- Lawmakers are returning to Capitol Hill Monday as Democrats prepare to take control of Congress in January following historic Republican losses in the midterm elections.Newly elected Democrats are urging party leaders to prioritize affordability and the rising cost of living, which played a significant role in the election.
Meanwhile, President Donald Trump addressed the Republican Party’s losses during his first major post-election interview with “60 Minutes.”
“They didn’t like the war. They didn’t like the fact that gasoline went up,” Trump said.
The president argued that the results would have been different if his name had appeared on the ballot.Trump also acknowledged that his administration’s immigration enforcement policies may have contributed to voter dissatisfaction.
“I think it might be too tough. Yeah,” Trump said when discussing his deportation policies.
The president suggested immigration could become an area of cooperation with Democrats, particularly for immigrants who have lived in the United States for years.
“Let the people that are here, and in some cases here for 10 and 15 years, work a deal for them,” Trump said.
His comments come despite his decision to elevate Stephen Miller, a leading architect of the administration’s immigration crackdown, to White House chief of staff.
Some lawmakers are expressing cautious optimism about finding common ground with the president.
“Do I think we can work with Trump? Maybe. I’m, by no means, guaranteeing it. But it is certainly worth the effort,” said Vermont Independent Senator Bernie Sanders.
However, potential cooperation comes as Democrats and some Republicans consider new investigations into the administration. One proposal involves a possible impeachment effort against Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, which could be introduced as soon as this week by an outgoing Republican representative.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries expressed support for the proposal.
“I’m a hard yes on the Hegseth resolution,” Jeffries said.
Trump defended Hegseth while indicating that additional changes within his administration could be coming. The developments highlight the challenges facing lawmakers as Democrats prepare to assume congressional control and the White House considers how to work with a divided political landscape.
