"If that happens, then we're going to do the same thing, and government would come to a halt, and we're going to blame them". Voters agree. Two-thirds of those casting ballots said their vote was about Trump, according to preliminary exit polls posted by CNN.
He took at a jab at "grandstanding" congressmen from his own party whom he said would have made it hard to get legislation through the House, had Republicans eked out a narrow win in the chamber. Still, he celebrated Republicans' success in retaining the Senate.
Internal Revenue Service law allows House and Senate tax-writing committees to request federal returns, and the ranking Ways and Means Democrat, Representative Richard Neal of MA, has signalled publicly he would ask for them - a move the White House might fight.
In Kansas, Democrat Sharice Davids beat a Republican incumbent to become the first Native American and gay woman elected to the House.
"I thought it was very close to complete victory", he said.
In both Senate and House races, Democrats have focused heavily on health care and protecting people with pre-existing medical conditions. He singled out Secretary of State Mike Pompeo for praise, but didn't answer specifically when asked about Attorney General Jeff Sessions' fate.
Of the special counsel's Russian Federation investigation that has shadowed his administration for more than 18 months, Mr Trump said, "I could end it right now" but "I let it go on".
As for Utah Representative Mia Love's loss Tuesday, Trump said: "Mia Love gave me no love, and she lost", adding, "Sorry about that, Mia".
In the leadup to the election, Republicans privately expressed confidence in their narrow Senate majority but feared the House could slip away. And he downplayed reports of voter irregularity and suppression, particularly in Georgia, instead saying, "I heard it was very efficient in Georgia". Claire McCaskill in Missouri and Republican Attorney General Mike DeWine defeating Democrat Richard Cordray in the race for OH governor.
Voters cast their ballots in the midterm elections on November 6, 2018, in Appleton, Wisconsin.
It's sure that the Democrats - who have been pilloried by Trump in the most extreme terms during the election campaign - will take their opportunity to hit back. She campaigned on keeping taxes low (South Dakota is one of a few states with no income tax), cutting government spending, and introducing more government transparency. In the final days, he sought to motivate supporters with the battle over the confirmation of Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh.
Returning to his immigration-heavy 2016 playbook, Trump went on to unleash his full fury on a caravan of migrants slowly making their way to the southern border. Rep. Ryan Costello, a Republican from Pennsylvania who announced his retirement earlier this year, tweeted his displeasure: "To deal w harassment & filth spewed at GOP MOC's in tough seats every day for 2 yrs, bc of POTUS; to bite ur lip more times you'd care to; to disagree & separate from POTUS on principle & civility in ur campaign; to lose bc of POTUS & have him piss on u".