US midterms: Trump ready with plan to outmaneuver Democrat-controlled Congress

One challenge the US president Donald Trump cannot avoid through executive action is congressional scrutiny. (File photo) US President Donald Trump's administration is preparing for the possibility of Democrats taking control of Congress after Tuesday's midterm elections, drawing up plans to continue advancing his agenda through executive powers while bracing for investigations into his government.Senior aides, including deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller and budget director Russell Vought, have been working with the White House Counsel's Office since April to identify measures Trump could pursue without congressional approval, reported news agency Reuters.These include policies on immigration, tariffs, housing costs and federal spending, according to a White House official and two people familiar with the plans.White House lawyers are also examining what Trump can legally do independently, how far he can push his authority and how to defend those decisions in court.White House plans for a Democratic CongressDemocrats need to gain four seats in both the House of Representatives and the Senate to take control. Polls favour them in the House, while the Senate contest remains too cl...