{
  "id": 16975013,
  "title": "Trump tamed after US midterms? Europe doubts it",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/28/trump-tamed-after-us-midterms-europe-doubts-it-16975013",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-28T23:00:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Malay Mail",
    "slug": "malay-mail-malaymail",
    "url": "https://www.malaymail.com/news/world/2026/10/29/trump-tamed-after-us-midterms-europe-doubts-it/240929"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "While President Donald Trump may face political repercussions from the upcoming US midterm elections, European expectations are low that a significant Democratic victory will substantially alter his actions. Since returning to power last year, Trump has caused numerous shocks across Europe, from his shifting stance on Ukraine to imposing tariffs on allies and even threatening to take Greenland.\n\nIn the lead-up to the November 3 polls, it seems American voters could potentially punish Trump's Republican party by handing control of one or both houses of Congress to the Democrats. However, EU and NATO officials doubt that a large Democratic win would rein in Trump's international behavior. \"We don’t think the unpredictability is going to change,\" stated a senior EU diplomat.\n\nThe European Union itself is keeping its cards close to its chest regarding the midterms and the potential impact on foreign policy. A spokeswoman for the European Commission remarked that they will not comment on any elections in the EU or abroad, urging patience to see how the results unfold.\n\nAhead of the midterms, Trump has continued to rattle Europe by clashing with Ukraine and aligning himself with Russia as the US renews efforts to resolve the conflict. While a Democratic win may bring a more vocal pro-Kyiv majority into Congress, EU officials do not anticipate a substantial increase in US support for Ukraine. Meanwhile, expectations for major changes to the tariffs Trump has imposed on Europe are similarly low. It took months for the Biden administration to roll back tariffs on EU steel, and even then, limitations remained. In a recent poll by the Council on Foreign Relations, only one-quarter of Americans backed the removal of all tariffs on the EU.\n\nIn terms of US forces in Europe, NATO allies are anxiously waiting for the Pentagon's review of deployments, expected in December. The general assumption is that it will see a decrease in US military presence, yet the hope is that the cuts will not be too severe. EU officials express little optimism that the midterms would influence the review, confident that Europe will continue to step up its own defense efforts regardless of the outcome.\n\nThere is also concern that Trump's actions could worsen after the midterm elections if Republicans retain control of Congress or if he loses and seeks to divert attention from domestic issues. Bruce Stokes, a visiting fellow at the German Marshall Fund, suggested that history shows presidents facing domestic trouble often turn to the international stage. This could manifest in an escalation of the Iran war or a more aggressive push on Ukraine, among other possibilities.",
  "summary": "BRUSSELS, Oct 29 — President Donald Trump may be facing a political pounding at the US midterm elections next mont...",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 3,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "France 24",
        "title": "US midterms: Trump escalates anti-Muslim attacks against Democratic Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/27/us-midterms-trump-escalates-anti-muslim-attacks-against-democratic",
        "published": "2026-10-27T11:56:12.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Free Malaysia Today",
        "title": "Trump tamed after US midterms? Europe doubts it",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/28/trump-tamed-after-us-midterms-europe-doubts-it",
        "published": "2026-10-28T04:24:18.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}