Trump administration intensifies legal challenges four days before the midterms

The United States is set to hold its midterm elections next week, with political parties vying for control of Congress - comprised of the House of Representatives and the Senate. Unlike India, the US government follows a strict separation of powers among its three branches. Currently, the Republican Party holds both houses of Congress, aided by the presidency of Donald Trump.

This situation allows the Republicans to implement their policy agenda fully. The midterms could significantly alter this dynamic if the more left-leaning Democratic Party gains control of both houses.

Since the unexpected victory of Zohran Mamdani as New York Mayor in November 2024, Trump has harshly criticized Democrats, warning voters against leftist policies. He referred to Democrats as "crazed lunatics and radicals" and accused them of being "communists."

However, the Democratic Party is increasingly adopting socialist policies, such as taxing the rich and redistributing wealth to the poor. Kamala Harris, a former Vice President, advocated for price controls during her unsuccessful presidential campaign against Trump in 2024.

Critics argue that the US has become more socialist under Trump's leadership. Cullen S Hendrix, a senior fellow at the Peterson Institute for International Economics, notes that the administration has taken significant steps towards state ownership of the economy. In June 2025, the US government acquired a "golden share" in Japan’s Nippon Steel, granting it veto power over US Steel operations.

Later that month, the US took a 10% stake in Intel, a major semiconductor manufacturer. Additionally, the administration has acquired significant stakes in other companies like MP Materials, Lithium Americas, and Trilogy Metals.

Hendrix cites V-Dem data, which ranks countries based on government control of the economy. While the US has rarely ranked lower than 4th out of 179 countries since 2010, it dropped to 15th in 2025, indicating a significant increase in state control. This shift places the US further away from the more capitalist economies of countries like China. Interestingly, India has also seen a rise in 'socialism' under a right-wing government since 2020.