Trump says Slaughter ruling gives him ‘tremendous powers’ if Democrats win
Trump said he would use vetoes and executive authority if Democrats take Congress, citing a Supreme Court ruling on FTC removals.
By Sal Moretti · Money Reporter
2 min read
President Trump said he could use vetoes and what he described as expanded executive authority if Democrats win control of either chamber of Congress, in a CBS News phone interview conducted before polls closed in the 2026 midterm elections.
Asked about the possibility of a Democratic-controlled Congress next year, Trump said, “I have the ultimate power, it’s called ‘veto.’” He said he was prepared to veto Democratic legislation if needed and welcomed being called “Mr. Veto.”
Trump also pointed to the Supreme Court’s June decision in Trump v. Slaughter as support for his view that he could continue pursuing his agenda. “We won the Slaughter case and the Slaughter case gives the president tremendous powers that it never had before,” he told CBS.
What did Trump say about using power if Democrats win Congress?
Trump said he believed the ruling, along with his veto authority, would let him press ahead even if Democrats held the House or Senate. He said vetoes could eventually prompt negotiations with Democrats, telling CBS that after a period of vetoes, lawmakers would seek a deal.
He did not make a firm prediction about the election outcome. Republicans entered Election Day with a three-seat House majority and a 53-47 Senate majority, CBS reported.
What did the Supreme Court decide in Trump v. Slaughter?
The Court’s decision was narrower than Trump’s description of its broader consequences. The Court held that the Federal Trade Commission’s rule limiting when a president may remove commissioners violated the Constitution’s separation of powers, according to the Court’s syllabus.
Under the FTC statute, commissioners could be removed only for “inefficiency, neglect of duty, or malfeasance in office.” The ruling arose after Trump removed Democratic FTC commissioners Rebecca Slaughter and Alvaro Bedoya soon after taking office in January 2025 without identifying one of those statutory grounds. The Court later reversed the district court judgment and sent the case back to the D.C. Circuit.
Trump told CBS that the decision would help underpin executive actions he plans to take next year. CBS, citing two people close to Trump who were granted anonymity to discuss private conversations, reported that White House talks about possible executive actions had included deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller and Office of Management and Budget Director Russell Vought. Immigration and trade were among the areas under consideration, the people said.
The Supreme Court ruling addressed the removal protections for FTC commissioners. Trump’s assertion that it gives the presidency wide-ranging new authority over federal agencies, boards and commissions is his interpretation of what the decision means.
This story draws on original reporting from CBS News.