Bekir İlhan, a PhD candidate in Political Science at the University of Cincinnati School of Public and International Relations, wrote for AA Analysis to what extent the Democrats gaining the majority in Congress after the midterm elections in the USA could limit the Trump government.
The fact that Democrats won the majority in both houses of Congress in the midterm elections held on November 3 in the USA brought about a debate about the extent to which US President Donald Trump's room for action in domestic and foreign policy could be limited in the remaining two years of his term. So, with what constitutional and institutional powers can Congress influence the Trump administration's policymaking process?
Essentially, the answer to this question lies in Congress' three basic powers. First, Congress's constitutional authority over federal spending allows Democrats to limit the Trump administration's budget and funding requests for military operations, particularly the Iran war, and to reject additional appropriations. Second, the Senate's power to confirm senior appointments made by the president allows Democrats to delay or reject Trump's appointments, especially those related to cabinet and national security. Thirdly, the power of the House of Representatives to initiate impeachment proceedings against the president and cabinet members stands out as another mechanism that can put political and institutional pressure on the Trump administration.
New political landscape in the USA
It can be said that the most important result of the 2026 midterm elections for the USA is the emergence of a fragmented political landscape that causes political power to be divided between the executive and the legislature. At some point, the struggle between relatively equal centers of power in politics draws politics to the ground of negotiation and bargaining. The current situation in American politics has imposed such a bargaining policy on both the president and the Congress for two years. Trump will try to pursue his own agenda in domestic and foreign policy by interpreting his constitutional powers broadly whenever he gets the opportunity. Democrats, on the other hand, will try to make progress in Congress by bringing separate issues into a "political exchange" dynamic with Trump.
At this point, domestic and foreign policy issues in American politics will become a subject of constant negotiation and bargaining between the Democrats and the president. This will cause seemingly independent issues to become linked. How severe this situation will be and how far it will go will depend on the performance of the Democrats at some point. Although Democrats appear to be united when it comes to Trump, they differ among themselves on many issues. Many newly elected Democratic representatives also make statements that may conflict with the party's establishment from time to time.
If Democrats choose the hard way
As can be understood, the next two years of US politics are also about how Democrats will use their current Congressional power. If an aggressive policy is pursued, investigations against many figures in the government, especially Trump, may be on the agenda. Again, an impeachment process may be initiated based on various allegations against Trump. Although Trump's removal from office is a difficult possibility in the current situation, as the Democrats cannot find a two-thirds qualified majority in the Senate, these processes can be initiated to pressure Trump politically. On the other hand, Trump can be shown the "stick of Congress" in various policy areas and concessions can be obtained in other areas. In this case, Democrats will not only limit Trump, but will also have the opportunity to shape his policies.
Democrats gaining the majority in Congress could put significant pressure on the Trump administration on foreign policy and national security issues, especially the US/Israel-Iran War. Thanks to their power in Congress, Democrats can reject additional war budgets for Iran operations and also include restrictive provisions in defense appropriations. In addition, they can take legal action against the Trump administration from continuing military operations without Congressional approval through the War Powers Resolution. At this point, Democrats have the opportunity to question Trump's war strategy, legal justifications and costs through various Congressional committees, through their powers to investigate, take statements and request documents. Again, Democrats can use their majority in the Senate to delay or reject high-level appointments. They may also try to impose limits on military operations with new laws. Even though they cannot completely eliminate Trump's power to make politics in different areas, especially in these processes, they can shape his policies.
However, Trump's veto power, the "filibuster" practice in the Senate, and the president's current executive powers will also limit Democrats' room for action. Therefore, the Democrats' majority in Congress will not eliminate Trump's authority as commander-in-chief, but it could significantly narrow his room for action by affecting the financing, operational sustainability, and political cost of the war.
As a result, the remaining two years of Trump's presidency may turn into a period that is more difficult and requires more political negotiations, as the balance of power in Congress changes. However, Democrats gaining the majority does not automatically mean that Trump's room for action will be narrowed or that his administration will be neutralized by Congress. One of the determining factors in this process will be how harshly the Democrats will choose to use these constitutional and institutional tools. Because the Democratic Party also has differences of opinion within itself, especially on foreign policy, security and budget issues. On the other hand, Trump also has the tools to counter Congress' initiatives thanks to his veto power, the constitutional powers of the executive branch, and his political influence over the Republican Party. For this reason, the next two years will witness intense political bargaining in the United States, especially over the budget, foreign policy and legislative processes.
