What next after midterms?

AMERICANS have spoken! For two years, many at home and abroad struggled to understand Donald Trump’s election as the nation’s 47th president.

Nevertheless, his bold promises to lower prices, end prolonged wars, curb inflation and reduce the national debt made him an appealing choice for voters at the time.

Hence, the writing was on the wall for the Republican Party in general and President Trump specifically, as voters went all out to oust the Grand Old Party from Congress and handed a crushing blow in the midterm elections that came to a close last Thursday.

The massive gains obtained by the Democrats at the 2026 US midterm elections have thrown a spanner in Trump’s relentless pursuit of power both domestically and internationally.

At the time of writing, the results showed Republicans lost 42 seats in the House of Representatives and seven seats in the Senate, allowing Democrats to take control of the US Congress with a firm majority.

Even in the race for governors, the Democrats won five extra seats, taking their tally to 28 out of 50.

With Congress flipping, what will Trump’s presidency mean for the remaining two years of his four-year term? How would this affect his foreign policy, and domestically, what can he do to ensure he is not a mere sitting-duck president?

Mr Veto

Trump had already hinted before the Americans went to the polls that he would use his presidential powers to block Democrats from making any legislative changes.

After all, Trump’s “Mr Veto” strategy is provided for under the US Constitution, giving the president veto power to block any bill that Congress passes.

Under the regular veto, the president can return an unsigned bill with objections within 10 days. The president also has a pocket veto, where Congress goes into recess during the 10-day window and the president does not sign the bill.

Failed policies

The midterm defeat was unsurprising after a string of unfulfilled promises since Trump took office in January 2025.

Erratic trade and tariff policies, coupled with rising gas prices and living costs, left voters frustrated with his leadership.

Allegations of bribery, including the US$400mil aircraft from Qatar intended for use as Air Force One, and insider trading, along with controversy over his cryptocurrency ventures through which Trump gained huge financial gains, further fuelled criticism.

Internationally, his actions have damaged both his reputation and America’s standing.

From migration policies to visa approvals, Trump’s policies have severely disrupted businesses, while reduced benefits and regulatory changes for those under Medicaid and Medicare have impacted many lives.

Trade and war

For the rest of the world, the most damaging impact of Trump’s presidency is his changing stance on trade policies via tariffs and his war with Iran.

Both moves damaged global trade and the economy, as disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz sent oil prices soaring and, with them, inflation rates, prompting central banks to raise benchmark interest rates.

What’s next?

Newly elected members of Congress will take office in January next year, and Trump’s best approach is to work with Democrats to reverse what is damaging the US economy.

The first step is to address the war in Iran and to withdraw America’s aggression towards the Middle East, allowing the Strait of Hormuz to reopen.

In fact, it was just a few days ago that Trump was quoted as saying that the war in Iran is “effectively over” militarily, after a meeting with Qatar’s prime minister.

Although oil and gas supplies may remain disrupted for at least another one to two years due to damage to various facilities, a US withdrawal from Iran will lower oil prices, and the world will welcome the move.

Next, the United States needs to address the reciprocal tariffs imposed worldwide, as Trump’s understanding of US trade imbalances with the rest of the world is simply misguided.

Although the US Supreme Court struck down the earlier tariffs, the current tariff rates, ranging from 10% to 12.5%, remain in force for 60 countries under Section 301 Forced-Labour Tariffs.

Other specific tariffs also remain in place, including tariffs on imports from China and Canada, as well as on steel, aluminium, copper, motor vehicles and pharmaceuticals.

Impeachment?

The Democrats will be eager to investigate Trump’s administration, which may go beyond the issue related to the Iran war and focus more on Trump’s personal enrichment two-year tenure since taking office.

With Congress under control, Trump may also face difficulties appointing new Cabinet members, as rumours suggest some may resign.

The long road

It is often said that one day is long in politics; what more than two more years of Trump’s presidency?

Trump has two choices. His first choice is to remain defiant and use all the power under him to pursue his own political, economic (tariffs) and war agenda, with or without Congress’s approval.

Two, he can abide and work with Democrats to institute changes that have been missing since he took office in January 2025.

One key element of this is to unwind his unpopular policies, which, among others, include the war in Iran and in other countries (including Cuba, which is next in line).

Internationally, he should also restore America’s role in peacekeeping by strengthening ties with allies in the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation, or Nato, and collaborating with other economic powerhouses, including China, India and Russia.

He should also be transparent about his and his family’s business enrichment, restore medical benefits to the American people, and address cost-of-living issues.

In conclusion, although the US president has lost control of Congress, he still wields significant power that he can use for the good of Americans and the world.

Or, he can remain defiant and plunge the world into chaos and confusion during the remainder of his term.

The choice is entirely his.