US midterm voters deliver brutal verdict on Trump
WASHINGTON: Donald Trump faced a radically transformed and hostile political landscape on Wednesday after US voters handed control of Congress to the Democrats in a stunning rebuke to his presidency.
On Wednesday, US midterm voters delivered a harsh verdict on former President Donald Trump, surrendering control of Congress to the Democrats in a decisive rebuke of his presidency. The outcome was a humiliating defeat for the 80-year-old Trump, as a Democratic wave surged into his Republican strongholds, fueled by outrage over escalating energy prices and his protracted conflict with Iran.
The Democratic takeover of both the Senate and the House of Representatives marks the end of Trump's dominance in US politics and empowers Democrats to obstruct legislation, probe his administration, and block his appointments.
The election results revealed widespread discontent over the cost of living, tariffs, and Trump's war with Iran, which has turbocharged fuel prices and exacerbated dissatisfaction with an already unpopular president. Despite his customary plea for goodwill, Trump exhibited a conciliatory tone, telling The New York Times that he was "absolutely willing to accept the results" and praising Democrats' hard-fought efforts.
However, he sought to disassociate himself from his party's poor performance and maintained that he did not view the outcome as a personal indictment.
Republicans managed a glimmer of consolation in Florida, where Trump-backed candidate Byron Donalds became the state's first Black governor, and Ashley Moody retained her Senate seat. However, the evening was characterized by a significant setback and a firm rebuke of Donald Trump and his policies. House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries declared Trump's MAGA movement "on the run," and he could potentially become the first Black speaker of the House when the new Congress convenes in January.
Trump claimed that Republicans would have won "in a landslide" if he had run for office, despite repeatedly urging supporters to pretend he was on the ballot. He also reiterated his threat to veto legislation passed by Democrats, posting an image of a red baseball cap emblazoned with the word "VETO."
Internationally, Russia expressed hope that Trump would continue his peacemaking efforts, while China pledged to continue its cooperation with the United States. However, Iran's supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, remained skeptical that the election results would lead to a shift in US policy.
Written by urgent.news from New Straits Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
