Democrats move to curb Trump after midterm victory

In the aftermath of a devastating midterm election defeat, President Donald Trump is confronting a new political reality, with triumphant Democrats vowing to investigate his administration and hold those responsible for alleged corruption accountable. The 80-year-old former president finds himself as a lame duck president, facing an uncertain future after Democrats secured control of both the House of Representatives and the Senate in the Tuesday midterms.

Vice President Kamala Harris' running mate, JD Vance, publicly distanced himself from Trump over the Iran war, claiming the conflict was the "reason we lost" ahead of a potential 2028 White House run. Democrats now hold a strong majority in both chambers of Congress, with two Senate races in Republican strongholds of Mississippi and Alaska remaining too close to call.

House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries announced his candidacy for speaker of the House, vowing to hold Trump and his administration accountable, stating, "The massive corruption the country has experienced from the Trump Cartel explains why very little is getting done to help everyday Americans. That changes immediately."

Despite the election results, Trump has attempted to downplay the significance, spending his first public appearances discussing his new $400 million ballroom at Mar-a-Lago. However, he acknowledged that the Iran war contributed to the rising cost of living, albeit reluctantly. Trump also reiterated his willingness to cooperate with Democrats, but warned of potential vetoes on legislation he opposes and threatened to impeach himself if Democrats attempted a third impeachment.

Republican leaders, including Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, warn that the Republican Party now faces an "extinction-level event" in many parts of the country, as the midterms represent the worst-case scenario for a midterm election in recent history.