President Donald Trump made his first public appearance after Republicans lost control of the House and Senate by touring the White House ballroom construction site on Wednesday, Nov. 4. He spent nearly 20 minutes discussing the project, including its marble and kitchen layout, and watched workers lift a steel beam he described as the structure’s final one. The ballroom is being built on the site of the demolished East Wing at a reported cost of about $400 million [pbs.org][cbsnews.com][lemonde.fr]. Trump did not address the election results until reporters asked about them. He said Vice President JD Vance’s assessment that the Iran war contributed to Republican losses by pushing up gasoline prices was “largely true,” but said he would make the same decision again to prevent Iran from getting a nuclear weapon [cbsnews.com][lemonde.fr]. Democrats’ new congressional majorities will give them control of committees and the ability to investigate the administration. Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer said his party could use its control over government funding to press for an end to the Iran war. Trump has warned he will veto legislation he opposes [lemonde.fr][nytimes.com]. House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries said his party would pursue oversight [lemonde.fr]. Highlights: • Voter priorities: About two-thirds of voters said Trump did not have the right priorities, and only four in 10 approved of his handling of the presidency, according to the Associated Press Voter Poll [pbs.org][boston.com]. • Senate contests: As of Wednesday evening, the Senate races in Alaska and Mississippi remained uncalled, with about 1,100 votes separating the candidates in Mississippi [nytimes.com]. • GOP leadership: House Speaker Mike Johnson said he would not seek to lead Republicans in the next Congress, setting up a contest involving Reps. Steve Scalise and Jim Jordan [nytimes.com][thehill.com]. • Vance’s critique: In addition to blaming the Iran war, Vance cited living costs, the “America First” agenda and U.S.-Israel relations as concerns among voters who switched to Democrats [ndtv.com]. • Campaign strategy: An Associated Press analysis found Trump urged supporters to imagine he was on the ballot in 30 of 39 speeches and rallies since Sept. 1 [pbs.org][boston.com]. Perspectives: John Ullyot, former deputy assistant to President Trump: Ullyot argued that the ballroom and other prestige projects would not build Trump’s legacy and called for more competent advisers willing to give frank advice and work across party lines [wfla.com]. (WFLA) Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis: DeSantis called the results close to an “extinction-level event” for Republicans in many areas and urged Congress to ban stock trading by lawmakers and extend the restriction to the executive branch [ndtv.com][nytimes.com]. (NDTV) "If I were on the ballot I would have won." — President Donald Trump Sources: • WATCH: Trump previews ballroom construction the day after voters rejected GOP rule - pbs.org • Trump emerges after the midterms: ‘Did you guys see the helipad?’ - seattletimes.com • Trump tries to brush off midterms rout in first public appearance - lemonde.fr • A day after a stinging midterm defeat, Trump focuses on his ballroom. - nytimes.com • Trump Emerges After the Midterms: ‘Did You Guys See the Helipad?’ - nytimes.com • Live updates: Trump blames Iran war for midterm loss while touting ballroom construction - thehill.com • Trump talks about the White House ballroom project, not the midterms, in extended public comments - boston.com • Trump touts White House ballroom after GOP midterm losses - cbsnews.com • Donald Trump would like to change the subject - vox.com • Trump biographer foretells how president will spend post-election da​y - alternet.org • ‘This is the unravelling of Trumpism’ - spiked-online.com • Maggie Haberman knows who’s first on Trump’s Cabinet hit list after wipeout - alternet.org • Trump brags about his White House ballroom and seeks to deflect blame for GOP midterm drubbing - mainichi.jp • After Republicans routed, Trump devotes first post-midterm event to White House ballroom - bworldonline.com • 'Envision chandeliers': Trump touts ballroom after midterms rout - rnz.co.nz • Ông Trump lần đầu xuất hiện sau thất bại bầu cử giữa kỳ - vnexpress.net • After Republicans routed, Trump devotes first post-US midterm event to White House ballroom - straitstimes.com • Largement battu, Donald Trump se réfugie dans sa salle de bal - 20min.ch • Donald Trump und sein Ballsaal: Präsident schwärmt trotz Wahldebakel - spiegel.de • Először állt kamerák elé a félidős választási vereség után Donald Trump, de inkább a Fehér Ház báltermét méltatta - index.hu • Pour sa première apparition après les Midterms, Donald Trump parle… de sa salle de bal - lamontagne.fr • Trump faces reckoning, but focuses on ballroom, after devastating losses - wfla.com • Doddering Trump’s ballroom deflection from midterms isn’t fooling anyone - independent.co.uk • Trump v prvním vystoupení po volbách hovořil o tanečním sálu - ceskenoviny.cz • Trump po volbách poprvé veřejně promluvil. Věnoval se tanečnímu sálu u Bílého domu - novinky.cz • Trump Talks Chandeliers, Showcases White House Ballroom In First Speech After Midterm Rout: 'It's Relaxing' - news18.com • Donald Trump nach den Midterms: Der Präsident wirkt müde, die Haare zauselig - spiegel.de • Après la dérouillée électorale, Trump se réfugie dans sa salle de bal - bluewin.ch • انتخابات میں شکست کے بعد ٹرمپ کا پہلا خطاب، 41 منٹ تک وائٹ ہاؤس کے شاندار بال روم کی تعریفیں - jang.com.pk • Republican Blame Game Starts As 2028 Hopefuls Angle For Position - ndtv.com • 'Trump Is Still Your President': White House's Reminder After Republicans' Midterm Rout - news18.com • "Wir werden zerstört": Unmittelbar nach Trumps Desaster zerfleddert sich MAGA - n-tv.de • Trump první vystoupení po porážce republikánů věnoval svému tanečnímu sálu - ceskatelevize.cz • Trump's interior secretary declares 'day of celebration' in first appearance after midterms loss - irishstar.com • Trump, prima reacție după înfrângerea republicanilor. Președintele SUA a evitat să vorbească despre eșec și s-a refugiat în proiectul Sălii de Bal - adevarul.ro • După înfrângerea zdrobitoare de la alegerile din SUA, Trump revine la pasiunea sa: sala de bal de la Casa Albă - stirileprotv.ro --- 📰 Story aggregated by Kagi News