The top photos of the week by AP photojournalists

President Donald Trump reacted to Republicans' midterm election losses by showcasing the new White House ballroom. He invited reporters on Wednesday to listen as he dug into details of that construction project rather than addressing his party's Election Day thumping. Voters expressed concerns about Trump's and his ability to do the job. According to The AP Voter Poll, many voters believe Trump lacks the right focus. Trump did get around to talking about the election, and he tried to deflect blame for the election results, saying Republicans would have won if he'd been on the ballot. Trump has a history of passing the buck, especially when there are ballot-box failures.

In his first public appearance after an election that soundly repudiated his policies, President Donald Trump turned to a topic both familiar and, given the context, surprising. It wasn't his policies or politics. It was his efforts to remake pieces of the city that is the backdrop to his presidency. Despite Trump’s affinity for project management, though, with Democrats taking control of Congress, the work the administration is doing to change the physical face of the District of Columbia is sure to face far more roadblocks. Projects range from the renaming of and renovation plans for the Kennedy Center to remaking a public golf course and erecting an arch 100 feet taller than the Statue of Liberty without its pedestal.