Europe Sees Democratic Win as Rebuke of Trumpism

European leaders welcomed the Democrats' decisive victory in the US midterm elections as a repudiation of Trumpism and an opportunity to ease strained transatlantic ties. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez called it the collapse of a far-right wave. The first two years of Trump's second term deeply damaged relations with Europe through his stance on NATO, a trade war with Brussels, and a pro-Russia position on Ukraine. Leaders expressed differing views on the impact, with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz expecting Trump to continue governing via executive orders. European officials urged the continent to bolster its autonomy regardless of the US outcome. Germany's foreign minister expressed cautious optimism about renewed Congressional support for Ukraine, while Trump's NATO ambassador insisted US foreign policy remains unchanged.