US President, Donald Trump has dismissed the possibility of being impeached by the new Democratic-led Congress, insisting that any such move would backfire on the opposition.

Speaking at the White House on Wednesday, in his first public remarks since the midterm results came in, he said he was not worried about impeachment “even a little bit”. He argued that an attempt would end up destroying the Democratic Party.

Asked by reporters whether he feared Democrats would move against him after their election victories, Trump said impeachment would be carried out for no reason, questioning what it would be for, other than running a successful country.

His comments came a day after his Republican Party suffered heavy losses in the midterms, with Democrats winning control of Congress in what has been described as a wave across the country. They are expected to take charge when the new Congress begins next year.

Trump also struck a conciliatory tone on working with the incoming majority. He said he would probably get along with the Democrats unless they chose to be destructive, and reminded them that he holds the power of the veto. The remark signals that, even with Congress out of Republican hands, the president intends to use his veto to block legislation he opposes.

The president also addressed the war in Iran, which has been blamed for contributing to the party’s poor showing. Vice President JD Vance had reportedly suggested the conflict fed the Democratic surge. Trump acknowledged that the war played a role in the losses, but said it had to be done and that the effort would continue.

Impeachment has hung over the midterms for months. In January, Trump told House Republicans at a retreat that if the party failed to win the midterms, Democrats would find a reason to impeach him. Republicans made the threat a key part of their campaign message, while many Democratic leaders were cautious about committing to it, saying their focus was on high prices and the president’s policies.

Some progressive Democrats, however, openly called for impeachment proceedings.

Trump is the only US president to have been impeached twice, in his first term, and the Senate acquitted him both times. Any new effort would face a difficult path, since removal from office requires a two-thirds vote in the Senate. The first moves by the new Congress, and how seriously Democratic leaders weigh impeachment against other priorities, will now be closely watched.