The Republican defeat in Congress will significantly limit the White House's capabilities
The Republican Party suffered a defeat in the US Congress elections on November 3, 2026, turning Donald Trump into a lame duck. The Democrats' victory turned out to be large-scale, and the start of the war in Iran became a fatal decision for the incumbent administration. This was reported by RBC-Ukraine (Мілан Лєліч) citing Bloomberg, according to the portal PromPolitInform.
Last week’s voting demonstrated serious voter fatigue with the current president’s policies. Even the technology of artificial gerrymandering in a number of states failed to save the Republicans from an electoral failure. A severe blow was the drop in support among Latino and African Americans, whose votes had guaranteed success in the previous campaign. Initial resistance to the election results in the White House was quickly abandoned due to too large a vote margin.
Consequences of the war in Iran
The key reason for the electoral catastrophe was the decision to launch military operations in Iran. Despite initial loud statements about eliminating the state’s leadership, the regime survived, and the campaign itself led to a rapid rise in oil prices and general inflation within the country. Such events directly violated the head of state’s election promises to improve citizens’ well-being. Subsequent attempts to independently rescue ratings during the campaign tour only increased voter irritation.
Levers of influence and risks for the team
By retaining the right of presidential veto, the head of the White House will have enough tools to block legislative initiatives. At the same time, the new composition of the legislative body will launch large-scale investigations into the activities of administration officials. Among the possible targets for criticism and further procedures is Secretary of War Pete Hegseth. The political process in Washington will focus for a long time on internal confrontations, hearings, and accusations.
Changes in foreign policy and Kyiv’s position
For Ukraine, the current changes do not mean an unambiguous victory or defeat, since the opposition party also includes a radical left wing with a critical attitude toward aid to Kyiv. At the same time, the standoff between the branches of government will force politicians to seek compromise packages of decisions. In Moscow, against the backdrop of the weakening position of the US administration, opportunities are being considered for further pressure and the reduction of sanctions pressure. The Ukrainian authorities will have to adapt to a complex balancing act between the positions of the White House and the renewed Congress.
Illustrative photo: https://www.facebook.com/DonaldTrump/photos/a.488852220724.393301.153080620724/10159419638630725/?type=3&theater / Public domain
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