When Mr Donald Trump called his Republican Party's midterm loss of about three dozen congressional seats a "big victory", he was carrying on a presidential tradition. Presidents generally get drubbed in midterm elections. Seldom do they look their losses in the face.

Mr Barack Obama, after losing nine Senate seats in 2014, acknowledged he'd heard the voice of disappointed voters, but added: "To the two-thirds of voters who chose not to participate in the process yesterday, I hear you, too."