Trump faces new political reality after Republican midterm defeat

Donald Trump faces a new difficult phase after Republicans' heavy defeat in the US midterm elections, with Democrats regaining control of Congress and raising questions about his political dominance within the Republican Party. Democrats won Senate seats in traditionally Republican states like Kansas, Texas, and South Carolina, while losing both chambers in the same midterm is a rare postwar phenomenon. From January, Democrats can block legislation, investigate the administration, and stall judicial and government appointments, leaving Trump with the presidential veto as his main institutional tool. Voter dissatisfaction over cost of living, inflation, and corruption drove the defeat, with Trump's tariffs and US military involvement in Iran weighing heavily. His endorsed candidates lost key races, and while analysts warn against declaring him finished, the battle for Republican succession ahead of 2028 has already begun.