Trump and Republicans Trade Blame After Election Night Losses. President Donald Trump and top Republicans traded blame after major losses in Virginia, New Jersey, California, and other states, marking the first major election since Trump took office. Trump said GOP defeats were due to his absence from the ballot, writing on Truth Social: “TRUMP WASN’T ON THE BALLOT... THAT’S WHY REPUBLICANS LOST.” Other Republicans blamed poor candidate quality and failure to address rising costs, with some acknowledging voters’ frustration over unmet economic promises. Democrats swept all statewide races in Virginia, flipped 13 House seats, and secured wins in New Jersey and California, where Proposition 50 passed to favor Democratic redistricting. Trump allies like Vivek Ramaswamy and Chris LaCivita criticized Republican campaigns, calling them weak and poorly managed. MAGA strategist Alex Bruesewitz said the GOP’s “lukewarm” approach toward Trump cost them key races, arguing Republicans need to be “MAGA all the way.” Some operatives said Trump should have campaigned more actively, especially in New Jersey, though others warned involvement in blue states might have backfired. Instructions: THIS VIDEO MUST NOT BE EDITED FOR LENGTH TO COMBINE WITH OTHER CONTENT