U.S. President Donald Trump attends a press conference at the White House in Washington D.C., the United States, on Nov. 7, 2018. U.S. Donald Trump said on Wednesday that he will have lunch with Russian President Vladimir Putin among other leaders during his planned trip to Paris but no meeting was expected. (Xinhua/Hu Yousong)
U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday pledged bipartisanship and unity with the Democratic Party, after losing control of the House of Representatives in the midterm elections.
"I would like to see bipartisanship. I'd like to see unity," Trump told a press conference at the White House, "I think we have a very good chance..of seeing that."
The remarks, made after the midterm elections wrapped up late Tuesday night, resonated with an earlier message from senior Democratic Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi, who is poised to become the next speaker of the House.
Trump said both parties can work together on issues including the economy, infrastructure, trade and lowering the cost of prescription drugs.
Despite the conciliatory tone, Trump also warned that if the House Democrats launch investigations against his administration, it would result in a gridlocked government.
"I keep hearing about investigations," Trump said, "They can play that game, but we can play it better."
"All you're going to do is end up in back and forth...and two years is going to go up and we won't have done a thing," Trump said.
It is all but certain that Trump and Pelosi's messages of good will be be difficult to follow through in the political landscape that has become ever more so polarized.
Soon after Trump's remarks, he announced that Attorney General Jeff Sessions will be stepping down. The move immediately drew rebuke from Pelosi, who said ousting Sessions will undermine the ongoing Russian investigation headed by Special Counsel Robert Mueller.
"It is impossible to read Attorney General Sessions' firing as anything other than another blatant attempt by @realDonaldTrump to undermine &end Special Counsel Mueller's investigation," Pelosi said on twitter.
The Democrats claimed victory in House elections after winning 218 seats in the 435 seat chamber. As the results in about a dozen districts are yet to be determined, it is unclear how many seats the Democrats will ultimately control.
