The key facts
- The Democrats won 54 seats in the Senate and a majority in the House of Representatives, but they lack the two thirds of votes needed to remove the president
- Political scientist Alexander Rudakov believes it would be more advantageous for the Democrats to constrain the Trump administration through investigations rather than seek his removal
- The president's foreign policy powers remain intact regardless of the composition of Congress
They have the majority, but not the votes to remove him
The Republicans' defeat in the midterm elections on November 3, 2026 does not mean that Donald Trump faces removal from power. Political scientist Alexander Rudakov gave this assessment in a conversation with RIA FederalPress, noting that even control of both chambers of Congress does not give Democrats the number of votes needed to complete the impeachment procedure.
How the procedure works and what the Democrats lack
Impeachment in the United States takes place in two stages: the House of Representatives brings charges against the president by a simple majority, and the final decision is made by the Senate, where the support of two thirds of the senators present is required. According to Reuters data as of November 6, the Democrats secured 54 seats in the upper chamber against 44 for the Republicans — enough to control the Senate, but not enough to remove the president with the full complement of voters. In Rudakov's assessment, the Democratic Party will not have such a majority.
What actually changes for the Trump administration
Although the president's departure is unlikely, the new balance of power can significantly complicate the work of his administration. Rudakov suggested that his opponents may find it more advantageous to keep Trump in power while maximally limiting his ability to implement his political agenda — including through parliamentary proceedings against key members of his team. At the same time, according to the expert, «the change in the balance of power in Congress and the Senate will not directly affect Trump's foreign policy powers»: in international affairs the president retains his powers and, in the analyst's view, may try to regain the political initiative on the world stage, for example through a settlement of the Ukrainian conflict and diplomatic agreements, which would strengthen his position ahead of the next elections.
Experts differ on timing but agree on the outcome
Discussion of a new impeachment has been going on for several months, and experts' assessments differ in the details. As Life.ru reported, on October 3 the Americanist political scientist Malek Dudakov suggested that the Democrats could initiate the procedure as early as early 2027, citing the administration's decisions on Iran and potential accusations of corruption and insider trading among possible grounds; at the same time, he himself acknowledged that achieving removal is harder than starting an investigation — during Trump's first term he was impeached twice, and both times the Senate acquitted him. After the elections, on November 4, Life.ru cited the opinion of political scientist Sergey Stankevich: he allowed for a new impeachment attempt but considered a resignation unlikely, pointing to instruments of pressure through parliamentary investigations, budget decisions and oversight of the administration. The new Congress will begin work on January 3, 2027 — then it will become clear which mechanisms the Democrats will choose first.
