Trump faces new political reality as Democrats vow investigations

On Thursday, former US President Donald Trump faced the consequences of his party's heavy midterm election losses, with Democrats vowing to investigate him and his administration. The results left Trump as a lame duck president for the remainder of his term, signaling the end of his grip on the Republican Party. Vice-President Kamala Harris, who endorsed Trump's opponent JD Vance, publicly distanced herself from his unpopular war in Iran, stating that the conflict was the "reason we lost".

Democrats, now controlling both the House of Representatives and the Senate, have vowed to hold Trump and his administration accountable. House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries announced his candidacy for speaker of the House, promising to investigate Trump and his administration. Jeffries emphasized that the country has experienced "massive corruption" from the Trump administration, which has made it difficult to improve the lives of everyday Americans.

Trump, who did not have any public events scheduled, attempted to downplay the election results by discussing the design of his new US$400 million ballroom. He conceded that the Iran war drove up gasoline prices, a key issue for voters angered by the rising cost of living. However, Trump also stated that he would get along with Democrats, threatening to veto legislation he did not like and warning that a third impeachment attempt would "destroy" the Democratic Party.

Florida Republican Governor Ron DeSantis, who ran against Trump in the 2024 presidential election, noted that Republicans are now facing a "political worst-case scenario" after their midterm defeat. DeSantis highlighted Florida as the only bright spot for the party this week, where Trump-backed candidates won key positions. He stressed that the defeat could have long-lasting effects on the Republican Party, particularly in many parts of the country.