Trump and Democrats Face Calls to Cooperate After Midterms

President Donald Trump and Democratic leaders struck varying tones on cooperation after Tuesday’s midterm elections shifted control of Congress to Democrats. Trump said he was open to working with them on some issues, including immigration, while Democratic leaders also voiced interest in finding areas of agreement alongside more confrontational remarks.

House Speaker-to-be Hakeem Jeffries said Democrats were prepared to seek bipartisan common ground, naming affordability as a priority. Incoming Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer warned that Trump would no longer have a compliant Senate, but also said voters had entrusted Democrats with a majority to act on their behalf.

Sen.-elect James Talarico of Texas cited immigration reform, reducing red tape, housing and lowering costs as potential areas for cooperation. He praised Trump’s border security record compared with the previous administration and called for repairing divisions and resisting extremism.

Commentators offered sharply different advice. One urged both parties to compromise, arguing that Democrats would need to work with Trump to pass legislation and proposing a bipartisan permitting bill that would speed approvals for both renewable and fossil-fuel energy projects.

Another argued that Trump should not rely on deals with the new Democratic Congress. Citing former President Barack Obama’s use of executive actions after Republicans won control of the Senate in 2014, the commentator urged Trump to pursue his agenda through presidential powers instead. The next two years are expected to bring congressional gridlock.

Democrats Should Turn Their Majority Into Bipartisan Progress

Voters have handed Democrats a congressional majority, not a license for endless retaliation. President Donald Trump has said he can work with Democrats on some issues, including immigration, and Democratic leaders should test whether that opening can produce results for people facing high costs.

House Speaker-to-be Hakeem Jeffries has pledged to seek bipartisan common ground, with affordability as a priority. Incoming Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer has warned that Democrats will not simply defer to Trump, but has also acknowledged that their majority should serve voters’ needs. Sen.-elect James Talarico of Texas has pointed to immigration reform, housing, reducing red tape and lowering costs as possible shared priorities.

That means treating workable proposals on their merits rather than rejecting them because they come from Republicans. A bipartisan permitting bill from Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse could accelerate approvals for renewable energy and fossil-fuel projects alike, addressing energy costs through an all-of-the-above approach.

Democrats should reject calls to make the next two years a campaign of investigations and obstruction. Trump has praised his administration’s border security compared with the previous one, and Talarico’s willingness to recognize that is the kind of candor that can help bridge divides. Compromise is not surrender; it is how a new majority can deliver meaningful change.

Trump Should Govern Without Depending on Democratic Deals

Democrats’ new congressional majority makes one thing clear: President Donald Trump should not confuse election-night goodwill with a durable partnership. He has said he could work with Democrats on some issues, including immigration, but the next two years are likely to bring gridlock, not a reliable path to legislation.

The warning from the new majority’s leaders is already evident. Incoming Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer has declared that the Senate will no longer be compliant with Trump. One commentator argues that Democrats intend to target Trump’s Cabinet, family and supporters outside government, making cooperation on immigration especially doubtful given their opposition to his enforcement and border policies.

The precedent after the 2014 midterms points to another option. When Republicans won the Senate and expanded their House majority, former President Barack Obama used executive actions to advance priorities including immigration, climate policy and health care. Trump should not abandon his agenda merely because Congress is controlled by the opposition.

Cooperation can sound appealing, but a deal that weakens the policies voters returned Trump to office to pursue would defeat the point. The new Democratic Congress may block legislation; that is no reason for Trump to stop governing. He should be ready to use presidential authority rather than expect a majority intent on opposing him to help deliver his program.