Inside the Tense White House Night After GOP Losses

Donald Trump’s public reaction to a bruising Republican midterm performance briefly sounded calmer than many expected. But according to reported accounts from inside the White House, the mood behind closed doors was far more strained as the results came in.

Speaking to Fox News on election night, Trump acknowledged that the outcome had caught him off guard. “I’m a little bit surprised. I thought they’d do better,” he said. He also credited Democrats for their performance, saying, “I think the Democrats did a good job, I really do. I think they did a good job. They fought hard.”

That public tone suggested a possible shift toward cooperation after a difficult night for his party. Yet reports from the Daily Mail painted a different picture of what was happening inside the building as Republican losses widened.

A Quiet Residence, An Emptying East Room

According to the Daily Mail, aides and political allies gathered in the White House East Room to follow the results and talk through what might come next. The room reportedly included trays of Cheesecake Factory finger food, a detail described as a nod to recent remarks by former President Barack Obama.

Trump, however, was reportedly not in the room. The outlet said he remained upstairs in the private residence with chief of staff Susie Wiles and presidential aide Natalie Harp. First Lady Melania Trump was also reportedly absent from the gathering.

One source described the Republicans in the room as “delusional,” saying they remained that way “right until the very end.”

As the evening progressed, the atmosphere reportedly grew heavier. Senior aides began leaving, followed by Cabinet officials. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who had been present earlier, was among those said to have departed.

By the time Democrats were projected to take the House shortly before 10 p.m. Eastern, the East Room was reportedly nearly empty. Some staff members were said to have moved on to a nearby Washington, D.C., bar.

One senior official told the Daily Mail, “It’s very, very dark in the residence,” describing Trump’s reaction as “a dark scene.” Another source close to Trump claimed he was “watching Fox News, barely uttering a word and paralyzed into silence.”