US President Donald Trump has sparked controversy after saying he could move to Israel and become its prime minister if Americans grow tired of him, while also declaring his readiness to use extensive executive powers after Democrats take control of Congress in the midterm elections.

“If people ever get tired of me in the US, I’ll move to Israel and become prime minister,” Trump said during a phone interview with Fox News’ Fox & Friends on Tuesday, as Americans went to the polls in the midterm elections.

The president made the remark while boasting about his popularity in Israel, claiming to have a 99-percent approval rating there and describing it as the highest approval rating of anyone in history.

His comments came against the backdrop of declining support at home. A CNN poll conducted between October 13 and 26 put his overall approval rating at 34 percent, with 64 percent of respondents disapproving of his performance.

During the same interview, Trump also announced that Washington would end its annual military assistance to Israel by the end of the year, claiming that the occupying entity can now stand on its own.

“Israel’s our No. 1. We give them more than anybody else, and they no longer need it,” he said, adding that he has discussed the decision with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu months earlier.

Trump said the proposed change would also affect US funding for Israel’s missile-defense systems, including the Iron Dome.

Democrats win both chambers of Congress in major midterm blow to Trump

The war against Iran also emerged as a significant source of discontent, as the conflict drove up gasoline prices and intensified concerns about the cost of living.

In a separate interview with CBS News ahead of the polls closing, Trump addressed the possibility of Democrats winning control of one or both chambers of Congress, saying he was prepared to use his veto power to block their legislative agenda.

“I have the ultimate power — it’s called ‘veto,’” he said, embracing the prospect of being known as “Mr. Veto” if Democrats gained a congressional majority.

Trump also referred to a recent Supreme Court ruling, Trump v. Slaughter, which he said had expanded presidential authority over federal agencies.

He argued that the decision would allow him to pursue his agenda even if Democrats controlled Congress.

“We won the Slaughter case, and the Slaughter case gives the president tremendous powers that it never had before,” he told CBS.

The US president also defended his extensive campaign appearances in the weeks leading up to the elections, claiming that his rallies had helped improve Republican prospects.

However, the election results delivered a major setback to Republicans. Democrats secured control of both the House and the Senate, in a contest widely viewed as a referendum on Trump’s presidency and policies.