Washington. In many American households, it was well past midnight when those opposed to Donald Trump fell into each other's arms. In a historic general election, citizens have reckoned with the policies of the Republican president and given the Democrats full control of Congress. The results early in the German morning were so clear that even Trump had no choice but to congratulate.
He will “work with the Democrats to ensure that things go well for our country,” said the US President in a live broadcast by Politico magazine. Trump referred to the “ultimate power” of his veto right - but at the same time expressed his ambivalence in the same way as in other short interviews on election night. He said he “didn’t want to just sit there for two years and veto everything.” With their new majorities in the House of Representatives and Senate, the Democrats cannot easily reverse Trump's policies - but they can at least influence them significantly.
The Democrats celebrated groundbreaking successes in states where they had not been able to win for decades. In Kansas, Adam Hamilton won the first Senate seat for the Democrats since 1932, and in Texas, James Talarico became the first Democratic senator in almost 40 years. In Ohio, Sherrod Brown won the seat that current Republican Vice President JD Vance held until two years ago. By winning in hard-fought Michigan, left-wing Democrat Abdul El-Sayed became the first Muslim in the Senate.
The US media reported continuously with live tickers about the “blue wave” of the Democrats, which rolled over large parts of the politically and socially divided country. Triumph in both chambers would hardly have been thought possible a few months ago. Photos and videos from the Democrats' election parties showed people crying with joy. Former US President Barack Obama called his party's victory on Platform X a "clear message" from the American people.
“They want policies that bring people together rather than drive them apart, and leaders who offer concrete solutions to their problems,” Obama wrote. Midway through the president's term in office, all 435 seats in the House of Representatives and 35 of the 100 Senate seats were voted on. In the Senate, the Republicans started with a majority of 53 seats. Even before all the races were counted, the Democrats were projected to have 54 seats.
The “politics of division” is no match for the “politics of love,” said Democrat James Talarico, who was victorious in the Republican stronghold of Texas. Trump also campaigned heavily in the southern state - as did tech billionaire Elon Musk, who supported the scandal-plagued Republican Ken Paxton. Musk reacted to the Trump party's crushing defeat with humor: "I guess my space lasers to influence the election didn't work this time."
In the House of Representatives, where the Republicans only held a razor-thin majority, there is a clear lead for the Democrats after the overwhelming election night. Leading Democrat Hakeem Jeffries is now on track to become the first Black Speaker of the House.
The loss of congressional majorities will make it difficult for Trump to govern in the final two years of his term. Democrats will set the tone for legislation starting in January. Candidates for important government positions and judges must be confirmed in the Senate. “You did a good job,” Trump said appreciatively to Fox News.
At the same time, the 80-year-old built up his defensive line. Although he had urged voters to act as if he was on the ballot, he now said: “I wasn’t on the ballot.” With his name, the election “would have been won,” Trump claimed in Politico. The US President also occasionally distanced himself from his party's election losers.
Thanks to their success in Congress, the Democrats can open investigations against the president and his administration. They have long had their sights set on numerous business activities of the Trump family, as well as deadly raids against migrants and the president's controversial construction projects in Washington. “Take lawyers,” wrote Democratic member of the US House of Representatives Robert Garcia on Platform X to the Republicans.
The House of Representatives can also initiate impeachment proceedings against the president. The Senate then decides on the actual impeachment - but this requires a two-thirds majority, which is difficult to achieve. The Democrats had recently shown little ambition to start impeachment proceedings against Trump again. In his first term, the impeachments failed in the Senate.
In order to override a presidential veto, the votes of two-thirds of the members in both chambers of Congress are required. Trump can continue to govern by decree. However, millions of people did not agree with the way power had been handled so far. In a large survey, 37 percent were dissatisfied with the situation in the country - and 38 percent were even angry.
