Trump’s midterm shellacking: an uncertain response

U.S. President Donald Trump speaks at an executive order signing event in the Oval Office of the White House on Thursday, after Democrats swept the midterm elections earlier in the week. | Alex Kent / The New York Times

Nov 6, 2026

American voters issued a stunning and complete rebuke to and repudiation of U.S. President Donald Trump and his Republican Party in midterm elections this week.

The size and scale of the Democrats’ victory was historic, a swing in congressional representation that hasn’t been seen in half a century.

The impact of this shift on U.S. policy and politics is unclear, however. Trump relishes a fight and has thrived on confrontation with his political foes. Moreover, the president has extraordinary power and one of the most important lessons of his two terms in office has been that it is norms, not law, that have historically guided and restrained presidential behavior.

In a time of both misinformation and too much information,
quality journalism is more crucial than ever.
By subscribing, you can help us get the story right.

SUBSCRIBE NOW