An election with global consequences
Considered a test for the public approval of the president, the US midterm elections have handed Democrats majorities in both the Senate and the House of Representatives. This confirms clear voter dissatisfaction reflected in opinion polls and ends Republican control over Congress.
Corina Cristea, 13.11.2026, 14:00
In rankings compiled by the American media regarding the issues that mattered most in these elections, the economy ranks first, specifically purchasing power, which Americans perceive as declining. This stands in contrast to the “Great America” proclaimed by President Donald Trump and the Republican Party’s MAGA movement, exacerbated in part by the war in Iran, which has driven up fuel prices.
The election in the USA has sent a clear message in favor of much stronger parliamentary oversight of the executive branch, analysts say. From 3 January 2027, Democrats will be able to decisively influence the legislative process, the federal budget and the confirmation of key appointments within the administration and the federal judicial system. Furthermore, Democratic-led congressional committees will possess vital tools to investigate the activities of the Trump administration.
The entire MAGA movement, and through it, various self-styled sovereignist factions around the globe, falls under scrutiny after this ballot, says Radu Albu-Comănescu, a political science professor at Babeș-Bolyai University:
“What is happening now defines not only Donald Trump’s standing in relation to the final two years of his mandate, what remains from January onwards, but also the viability of the ideas expressed by him, or through him by the MAGA movement, the policies this movement pursues, and, naturally, imitators elsewhere who constantly look to the United States for backing. Even if this ultimately means reorganizing the international system around entirely different precepts and ideas. For the average American citizen, of course, these elections focus primarily on issues concerning the economic situation, rising prices, inflation and all the consequences that have flowed from them. This includes the energy transition the United States is undergoing and the impact of these energy policies. Globally, as we see American industry and population becoming closer to, not to say dependent on, hydrocarbons. Developments in the Middle East have a profound impact on the US market. When you add to this the already heightened hostility towards the idea of a conflict with Iran, which, to truly win, would require boots on the ground, we realize it is a rather complicated combination for Donald Trump”.
The election outcome carries implications for Europe, Ukraine, China, the Middle East and the global economy, demonstrating clearly that Donald Trump will have to govern over the next two years in a significantly more complex political landscape. The US midterms will also exert a substantial influence on European disengagement, which the Trump administration has actively promoted, explains political analyst Andrei Tiuț:
“It is important to understand that Donald Trump rides a trend, a trend through which the United States will partially disengage from Europe in favor of its famous pivot to Asia. This disengagement, from the American ideal perspective, involves the US spending less in Europe while maintaining a certain hegemony and near-veto power over specific aspects of European foreign and military policy. Donald Trump is a more chaotic and poorly executed exponent of this stance, which is partly shared even by old-guard Republicans. On the other hand, what Donald Trump has brought, and what will be difficult to change, is a distancing of the American electorate from foreign policy and a desire to disengage from these commitments. This desire emerged because voters previously consented to American interventionism largely out of trust in the elites. The moment elites no longer unanimously back a presence in Europe, the electorate is no longer enthusiastic either. And given this pressure, Democrats in Congress must take it into account”.
A shift in the parliamentary majority does not automatically alter the direction of US foreign policy, as the president retains crucial authority over national security and international relations. Tudor Curtifan, editor-in-chief at Defence România, believes a major paradigm shift is unlikely:
“Regarding foreign policy, the incumbent US president continues to hold primary authority. The president wields major power over foreign policy decision-making and executive matters, especially given that the president is the chief executive of the United States. We will likely see a much sharper internal political battle within the US, which will certainly impact foreign policy, but without major departures from what we have witnessed over the past two years. There will likely be internal friction and extensive negotiations, and Donald Trump will certainly make excessive use of his veto power”.
Budgets for defense, foreign aid and the financing of international operations could become subjects of intense negotiation and political confrontation. Estimates suggest that the war in Iran and relations with European allies in particular, could spark fierce debates in Congress. Democrats could use their newfound leverage to advance aid packages for Ukraine and revisit the legislation imposing sanctions on Russia. Frederick Kempe, the president of the Atlantic Council in Washington, argues that if Ukraine, Europe and their allies in Congress push back against any agreement that betrays Kyiv, the midterm results could tilt the war in Ukraine’s favor. (VP)
