Defeated Trump to the trash can - Internet mockery

"I wasn't on the ballot. If I had been, we would have achieved a magnificent victory." This was Donald Trump's initial reaction to a strategy that ultimately turned against him, a strategy where he repeatedly told voters throughout his election campaign to "imagine I'm on the ballot."

 In the US midterm elections held on November 3, 2026, Democrats gained control of both the House of Representatives and the Senate, flipping numerous red strongholds. However, going beyond a historic political defeat, the internet transformed this entire event into a humorous and satirical spectacle.

In this election, James Talarico defeated Ken Paxton to win the Texas Senate seat, and the governorship also went to the Democratic Party. Additionally, for the first time since 1932, a Democratic senator was elected from Kansas, and seats in states like South Carolina, Ohio, Iowa, and North Carolina also saw upsets. In areas considered Republican strongholds, such as Texas and South Carolina, Democratic supporters celebrated enthusiastically on election night, and the stage was set for Hakeem Jeffries to become the first Black Speaker of the House of Representatives when the new Congress convenes. The Democratic Party warned the White House to "prepare for legal assistance" in the face of upcoming investigations.

Trump's online posts further heated up the situation amidst this crisis. He referred to Texas Governor Greg Abbott as a Republican in name only, or a 'RINO', criticized Fox News's polls during live calls to the channel, and accused them of giving space to the Democratic opposition. Trump, who announced he would become a political commentator, posted a picture of a red MAGA hat with only "VETO" written on it. He later congratulated the Democrats and said he would work with them, but emphasized that he possessed "complete veto power." Although rising fuel prices were widely cited as a major reason for this massive defeat, Trump stated that the Iranian war losses were worth bearing for it.

Meanwhile, Trump's team and allies began to blame each other, and J.D. Vance's long analytical post was interpreted by many as an attempt to distance himself from Trump.

The most peculiar incident that garnered significant attention on social media was an AI-generated video. It depicted a group of people in suits carrying a seemingly lifeless Trump out of the White House and depositing him into a bin labeled "Hazardous Waste." This video gained global media attention after it was posted by the official X account of the Iranian Embassy in India with the caption "US Midterm Elections." Other versions of Trump in a trash can, floating in water, or being washed away also circulated across the internet.

Those celebrating the Democratic victory declared that previously mocked concepts like pronoun usage and DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) had returned. Numerous jokes spread across social media, such as "Texas's new pronoun He/Haw," "The moment Marco Rubio realizes he has to update his pronouns," "Pronouns returning to profile descriptions," "Turning the dance hall into a drag show venue," "Banning cisgender people from sports," and "Ordering a pronoun burger with extra sauce."

"Blue Tsunami" meme creations, depicting red supporters being caught in a massive blue wave and fleeing, became popular. Creations about "Trump being able to change the regime in Texas before Iran," Elon Musk's migration from California to Texas, and H-1B visa workers dancing joyfully were also seen on social media. Mahua Moitra, a Trinamool Congress Member of Parliament in India, posted "Friend Doland needs Gnana's help," implying that Trump needed India's Chief Election Commissioner.

Among these were AI images of Russian President Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un looking at election results and laughing while having a "pizza party," "Downfall" satirical video compilations about Hitler, and music lovers' declarations that "everything is blue."

The political reality of red strongholds falling, Trump's reactions, and the internet meme culture centered on the "hazardous waste" satire combined to make this election night both a serious political setback and an unforgettable moment of humor on the internet.

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