US President Donald Trump has warned that he could become “the last Republican president” if Democrats win control of Congress and the White House in the next two election cycles.
Trump made the remark on Monday during a political rally in Youngstown, Ohio, where he campaigned for Republican candidates seeking office in the state.
“I will be the last Republican president because they will add about 12 more electoral votes,” Trump said during his speech.
He argued that Democrats would gain additional political advantages if they secured power, including more seats in the Senate and House of Representatives.
“They’ll add four more senators. They’ll add 10 more congresspeople, approximately,” he continued. “They’re going to rig the Supreme Court through just a lot of people.”
The president also accused Democrats of planning to expand the US Supreme Court beyond the 13 justices proposed by some party figures. Trump claimed that their actual target was 23 justices.
“The real number that they dream of is 23,” Trump claimed during his speech. “They say 13. Who wants 13?”
Some Democrats have called for an overhaul of the Supreme Court amid concerns over its conservative majority, which was strengthened by Trump’s appointment of three justices during his first term. Former Vice President Kamala Harris is among the politicians who have supported expanding the court to 13 members, alongside reforms to the Electoral College.
Trump’s appearance in Youngstown was aimed at rallying support for incumbent Republican Senator Jon Husted and gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy, both of whom are facing competitive races in Ohio.
The state has backed Trump in each of the last three presidential elections, but the candidates are seeking to consolidate Republican support ahead of the upcoming polls.
While some Republican candidates have attempted to distance themselves from Trump amid declining job approval ratings, Husted and Ramaswamy have continued to rely on his support to mobilise the party’s base.
Addressing the rally, Husted credited Trump with changing the political landscape in the Youngstown area, which had historically supported Democratic candidates.
“The Youngstown area for decades used to vote Democrat, and then you ran for office in 2016 and flipped it red forever,” Husted said during his speech Monday. “Is that right, folks?”
Trump also expressed support for several other Republican candidates who attended the event, including Representative Max Miller.
Miller has faced allegations of abusing his former wife and their young daughter, claims he has denied.
Acknowledging the Ohio lawmaker at the rally, Trump said, “Thank you, Max, for coming,” before adding, “Thank you. Very good.”
