Trump Blames Shutdown for Republican Losses on Election Day

President Trump said on Wednesday that the continuing government shutdown was to blame for the large Democratic victories in Tuesday’s gubernatorial elections in New Jersey and Virginia, while arguing that voters had not rejected him personally.

Speaking at a breakfast of Senate Republicans, Mr. Trump, citing unidentified “pollsters,” called the government shutdown a “big factor, negative for the Republicans.”

“I don’t think it was good for Republicans. I’m not sure it was good for anybody,” Mr. Trump told the senators. “But we had an interesting evening, and we learned a lot.”

The remarks were a sharp reversal in Mr. Trump’s strategy to cast the shutdown as hurting only Democrats. It also put on display the president’s own missteps, given that he has been unwilling to negotiate with Democrats to end the shutdown.

In his remarks, Mr. Trump lamented that there had been little backlash against Democrats, who have been at an impasse with Republicans over extending health care subsidies. “I don’t think they’re getting really the blame that they should,” he said.

He also doubled down on deflecting blame for the stalemate and sought to squelch any doubt that the outcomes of the races reflected on his policies.

Mr. Trump noted to senators that he wasn’t on the ballot, suggesting that Republican voters turn out in larger numbers to vote for him, but not necessarily for other Republican candidates; he said he was honored that the lack of his presence was considered “the biggest factor.”

Mr. Trump ramped up pressure on the lawmakers to wield their power to bring the shutdown to an end and imperil any future moves by Democrats to thwart his agenda.

During his remarks, he again implored the senators to end the filibuster, which he said could end the shutdown immediately.

“It’s time for Republicans to do what they have to do, and that’s terminate the filibuster,” he said. “It’s the only way you can do it. If you don’t terminate the filibuster, you’ll be in bad shape. We won’t pass any legislation.”

Congressional leaders, who have shown no appetite for killing the filibuster, remained largely adamant after Mr. Trump’s remarks.

“There’s nothing that can move me on the filibuster,” said Senator Thom Tillis, Republican of North Carolina.

At the Capitol, Speaker Mike Johnson told reporters that Tuesday’s Republican defeats should not be read as a broader repudiation of the party.

“I don’t think the loss last night was any reflection about Republicans at all. I think people are frustrated and angry, as we are, I am, the president is,” Mr. Johnson said. “We’re looking forward to a great election running on our record.”

Mr. Trump spent the day after the Democratic victories attempting to boost his economic accomplishments — including the “anniversary” of his re-election to office — even as the nation marked the longest government shutdown in history, which is threatening the livelihoods of millions of Americans.

But Tuesday’s races had been considered a major test of the mood of the electorate in Mr. Trump’s second term, and a foreshadowing of next year’s midterm elections.

Key campaigns, including the New York City mayor’s race, were built on strong messaging about reducing the cost of living, and their outcomes were an indication that Mr. Trump’s edge on the issue of the economy was waning. Recent polling has shown that support for Mr. Trump’s agenda is weakening and that many voters believe the country is on the wrong path.

But as the day wore on, Mr. Trump tacitly acknowledged the headwinds that he is facing after the election, even co-opting the language that has been central to Democrats’ messaging in both the shutdown and the successful campaigns.

“Our Economy is BOOMING, and Costs are coming way down,” he wrote on social media after meeting with the senators. “Affordability is our goal. Love to the American People!”

During a speech on Wednesday afternoon in Miami at the America Business Forum, Mr. Trump also acknowledged that his accomplishments were not resonating.

“We have the greatest economy right now,” he said, adding that “a lot of people don’t see that.”

Mr. Trump also used the speech to claim that since returning to office, he had improved the economy and wages, while lowering food prices and inflation (both are up). He also boasted of bringing thousands of people off of food stamps, even as he has threatened to deny them to millions of others unless Democrats reopen the government.

“Day by day, we’re making America affordable again,” Mr. Trump said. “It’s going to be affordable again at a really record pace.”

He added that “all the mayors and all the governors” were going to take credit for it, but “didn’t do a damn thing.”

Mr. Trump continued to rail against one future mayor in particular, often veering off his speech to attack Zohran Mamdani, the mayor-elect in New York City, as a “communist.” Mr. Trump endorsed Mr. Mamdani’s main opponent, former Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo, who ran as an independent after losing the Democratic nomination to Mr. Mamdani.

He suggested that the victory by Mr. Mamdani — who is a democratic socialist, not a communist — was a warning for the country.

“After last night’s results, the decision facing all Americans could not be more clear,” he said. “We have a choice between communism and common sense.”

Megan Mineiro, Catie Edmondson and Robert Jimison contributed reporting.