The key facts

  • The Democrats won the midterm elections, and Trump became a 'lame duck' president
  • Trump congratulated the Democrats but threatened to veto their legislation and posted a cap reading 'VETO'
  • Foreign policy is the area where the president retains broad powers: an escalation of the war with Iran is possible

A conciliatory tone after defeat

The Democrats' victory in the US midterm elections has turned the final two years of Donald Trump's term into a 'lame duck' period. On Tuesday, the 80-year-old president congratulated the Democrats and said he was ready to work with them — a tone that AFP describes as unexpectedly conciliatory. How long it will last, the outlet does not venture to predict: as Peter Loge, director of the School of Media and Public Affairs at George Washington University, noted, 'every time Trump has been cornered, he has shouted louder and come out fighting.'

Domestic policy: vetoes and executive orders

While speaking of cooperation, Trump at the same time repeatedly reminded everyone of his right to veto any Democratic bills, and even posted an image of a red baseball cap with the word 'VETO' on it. According to reports, his administration has prepared a plan to advance a hard-line immigration policy through executive orders — modeled on the first 100 days of his second term. Trump also said he is ready to fight back against investigations that the Democrats will lead. The outlet notes that he may have no choice but to cooperate: some Republicans blame the war with Iran for the defeat.

Foreign policy as the main lever

AFP emphasizes that foreign policy is the only area where a 'lame duck' president retains broad powers. Trump could resume large-scale military operations against Iran, although on Tuesday he signaled that he is still seeking a deal to end the war he started in February: 'Otherwise I'll simply see it through to the end,' he told Fox News. Ryan Hass of the Brookings Institution suggested that Trump does not want his legacy to be an image of 'belligerence': 'He wants his legacy to be a stronger America that he leaves behind.' Trump denied rumors of a possible resignation of Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth amid the protracted war. He also, apparently, will continue to pressure Ukraine to reach an agreement with Russia: new trilateral talks are scheduled for next week.

Weakened influence and legacy in Washington

The election defeat may weaken Trump's leverage in relations with the leaders he considers his equals in greatness — Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin. This comes less than two weeks before a possible meeting of the three leaders at a summit in China at the end of this month. In his closing campaign speech, Trump said almost nothing about politics, focusing instead on the improvement of Washington — from the reconstruction of the Reflecting Pool at the Lincoln Memorial to the $400 million ballroom being built at the White House, which is to be completed at the end of 2028, shortly before the president finally leaves power.