How a Trump Midterm Defeat Could Reshape EU-US Relations

A potential defeat for Donald Trump in the US midterm elections could make his foreign policy more erratic, raising concerns in Brussels about renewed trade conflicts and security shifts affecting Europe. European officials hope a Democratic Congress would correct transatlantic relations, but fear Trump might retaliate by reviving tariffs on European goods like medicine and machinery, prompting an EU response. Courts, not Congress, are seen as more likely to overturn his trade measures. Trump could also vent frustration on NATO allies, potentially withdrawing US troops from Europe, with a report on German deployments due in December. Analysts warn he may use foreign policy to distract from domestic losses.