The key facts

  • Trump called the midterm elections the most important 'in our lifetime,' but acknowledged that a sitting president usually does not win them
  • The US Supreme Court rejected Trump's attempt to block 20,000 ballots in California
  • According to DW, the Democrats are expected to regain control of the House of Representatives, while the battle for the Senate is considered close

Trump lowers expectations ahead of the election

On the eve of the US midterm elections, which will take place on November 3, President Donald Trump called them the most important 'in our lifetime,' but at the same time publicly lowered expectations for his party: according to him, a sitting president 'does not win midterm elections,' regardless of whether he is a Republican or a Democrat, a good or a great president. He added that his Republican Party 'has given this a very strong chance.' This is reported by Deutsche Welle.

Mutual accusations on the campaign trail

According to Trump, the Democrats have put forward 'the most extreme and dangerous' list of candidates in the country's history. The Democratic leader in the Senate, Chuck Schumer responded by calling Trump's campaign message 'pathetic,' pointing to an 'illegal war,' 'corruption,' and persistent inflation. The election, in which millions of voters will determine control of Congress for the remainder of Trump's term, is largely seen as a referendum on the sitting president's policies; at the center of the campaign are the rising cost of living and energy prices amid the US war with Iran.

Court rejects attempt to block ballots

The US Supreme Court rejected Trump's last-minute attempt to block 20,000 ballots in California. Speaking at the Reflecting Pool at the Lincoln Memorial, Trump also talked about rusty pipes and algae, and reminded voters of the risks of Iran possessing nuclear weapons: 'If we allowed Iran to obtain nuclear weapons, this country could never function the same way again,' he said.

Strike on Iran and negotiations

According to the Wall Street Journal, citing American sources, ahead of the election the US struck the Iranian island of Qeshm; US Central Command did not officially confirm the attack. This happened despite the administration expressing optimism about negotiations with Iran to end the war. Vice President JD Vance previously stated that the goal is to prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons, describing talks with Tehran as 'good.' Against the backdrop of the resumption of negotiations, oil prices fell noticeably.

What the vote will decide

The Democrats are expected to win back control of the House of Representatives, however the battle for the Senate is considered close. The outcome of the election will influence both parties' strategies on the path to the 2028 presidential election.