Democrats win US Congress, Trump faces tougher oversight and transatlantic uncertainty

Democrats won control of both chambers of the US Congress in the midterm elections, securing the Senate and making significant gains in the House of Representatives. The victory sets the stage for intensified political conflict in Washington between the Democratic legislature and President Donald Trump.

Democratic lawmakers announced stronger oversight of the Trump administration and investigations into its work. Congressman Robert Garcia of California, seen as the likely future chairman of the House Oversight Committee, urged people to hire lawyers early Wednesday morning.

“Hire lawyers”

Expected investigations include the war in Iran, the work of the FBI, and the business affairs of the Trump family. Political observers compared the potential confrontations to past major scandals such as Whitewater, the first impeachment of Bill Clinton, and the Iran-Contra affair.

In foreign policy, Trump retains substantial constitutional authority over diplomacy, national security, and trade. He has already shown willingness to expand these powers through executive orders and legally disputed ways of bypassing Congress.

European interests, from energy prices to the war in Ukraine, depend heavily on decisions by the US administration. Experts warn that transatlantic relations will not become more harmonious and may bring more conflict and additional Trump demands.

Giuseppe Spatafora, an analyst at the EU Institute for Security Studies who coordinates the transatlantic relations portfolio, said the relationship between the EU and the US will be unpredictable. He argued that Trump could become more aggressive in foreign policy as he seeks to build his legacy while his domestic agenda is blocked by Congress.

Spatafora added that Congress's powers in foreign policy are limited. While legislators can restrict the president domestically through budget control, completely cutting funding for operations against Iran is unlikely because it would endanger American troops.