Trump Shares Graphic on Midterm House Losses
Trump posted an Al Jazeera chart on Truth Social showing presidents' parties usually lose House seats in midterm elections.
Updated on Nov. 7, 2026 in Political Parties
President Donald Trump shared an Al Jazeera graphic on Truth Social on Saturday showing that the president's party has lost an average of 26 House seats in 18 of 20 midterms since World War II. The graphic was dated Nov. 2, before Tuesday's election.
Why it matters
The chart frames the expected midterm outcome historically, as Democrats are on track for roughly 256 House seats in the 2026 elections. The post was shared without reference to this year's results.
The chart covers 20 midterm elections since 1946, with an average loss of 26 House seats by the president's party in 18 of them. Republicans lost 42 House seats in 2018, and Democrats are on track for roughly 256 seats in 2026.
The players
Donald Trump
Donald Trump is the current President of the United States, a Republican who won the 2024 election and has repeatedly used Truth Social to comment on political developments.
Al Jazeera
Al Jazeera is a Qatar-based international news network whose funding origins have drawn criticism from some U.S. political figures.
The details
Trump shared the graphic, titled 'Parties of two US presidents have won House seats since 1946,' on Truth Social on Saturday morning. Laura Loomer had previously called Al Jazeera 'literally terrorist propaganda' in June, and the anti-MAGA research account PatriotTakes flagged the post.
Timeline
Nov. 2: Date of the graphic shared by Trump
Tuesday, Nov. 3: Midterm election day
Saturday, Nov. 7: Trump shared the Al Jazeera graphic on Truth Social
Political Context
The chart points to a long-standing pattern in which the president's party has lost House seats in 18 of 20 midterms since 1946. The post also comes against the backdrop of Republicans losing 42 House seats in the 2018 midterms during Trump's first term.
The midterm pattern shown in the chart bears directly on which party controls the House, which determines committee leadership and the legislative agenda. Readers tracking congressional control will find the historical record a useful baseline for judging the final 2026 results.
The takeaway
Historical midterm patterns give a baseline for judging House outcomes, but the graphic's date and framing predate this year's results. Readers should check certified 2026 election returns before drawing conclusions about the final House balance.
Further reading
For more on how the parties have fared in past midterms, see Political Parties.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Raw Story.
