The election results have weakened Trump’s position in Washington and handed Democrats control of congressional committees, giving them greater authority to investigate his administration, question senior officials and demand government records.
Democratic lawmakers have signalled that investigations could cover the president’s business interests, family dealings, government contracts and major policy decisions. Trump’s allies, meanwhile, have accused opponents of pursuing political retaliation and pledged to defend administration officials.
In a social media post on Sunday, Trump criticised the election outcome and said the country had taken a step backwards. He also claimed that financial markets had suffered losses following the vote.
“But have no fear, we will be back, BIGGER AND STRONGER THAN EVER BEFORE!” he wrote.
The president’s response came as senior figures from both parties exchanged accusations on television programmes, highlighting the political battle likely to dominate Washington as the new Congress prepares to take office.
Trump has also moved to strengthen his inner circle, appointing hardline adviser Stephen Miller as his new chief of staff. Miller, a key architect of the administration’s restrictive immigration policies, is expected to play a central role in the president’s political response to the election defeat.
The appointment has drawn attention because immigration enforcement and the administration’s approach to border policy were among the issues debated during the campaign.
Trump has also directed the Justice Department to examine Democratic threats to impeach members of his administration, describing those threats as a form of extortion.
Attorney General Todd Blanche, a former personal lawyer to Trump, defended the administration on Sunday, saying the Justice Department would stand behind officials facing what he described as political attacks.
Blanche said Democratic lawmakers had spent the days following the election threatening members of the administration, including Miller, rather than focusing on congressional oversight.
“If they try to come after Stephen Miller … of course the Department of Justice will be there to defend him,” Blanche told CNN.
Democrats rejected the suggestion that their plans amounted to intimidation, arguing that congressional investigations were part of their constitutional responsibility.
Robert Garcia, the leading Democrat on the House Oversight Committee, said lawmakers intended to investigate alleged wrongdoing and scrutinise the conduct of the executive branch.
He accused Blanche of prioritising Trump’s interests over the responsibilities of the Justice Department.
Garcia said Democrats would not be deterred by warnings from the administration and insisted that Congress had a duty to hold government officials accountable.
With control of congressional committees, Democrats will be able to issue subpoenas, request documents and organise public hearings. The powers could expose senior officials to sustained questioning and increase pressure on the White House.
Potential areas of scrutiny include the Trump family’s business and cryptocurrency interests, government contracts involving billionaire Elon Musk, reductions in federal agencies and immigration enforcement.
The administration’s handling of the war in Iran is also expected to face criticism from Democratic lawmakers.
Hakeem Jeffries, who is set to become speaker of the Democratic-controlled House of Representatives, said he supported an effort to remove Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth.
Jeffries accused Hegseth of abusing his authority and undermining national security through his role in the conflict, which began in February.
He argued that the war had increased costs for Americans and made the country less secure.
The proposed action against Hegseth illustrates how the change in congressional control could extend beyond investigations into the president to include senior cabinet officials.
Impeachment, however, would not automatically result in an official’s removal. The House can approve articles of impeachment, but conviction and removal require a two-thirds majority in the Senate.
Trump was impeached twice during his first presidency, but the Senate acquitted him on both occasions.
The new political landscape is likely to test relations between the White House and Congress, with Democrats seeking to use their oversight powers and Republicans preparing to resist what they describe as partisan efforts.
Trump’s pledge to return stronger suggests he intends to remain an active political force despite the setback, while the coming congressional session could bring a prolonged confrontation over executive authority, accountability and the direction of US policy.
