The US midterm elections have produced a significant political shift, with the Democratic Party succeeding in taking control of both the House of Representatives and the Senate from the Republicans, a result that places the administration of President Donald Trump before a different legislative reality during the final two years of his term.
This shift is expected to reflect on Trump's ability to pass his domestic and foreign agendas, under stricter congressional oversight and more complex political balances. Trump acknowledged that the war in the Middle East was one of the factors that contributed to the Republicans' loss, stating in an interview with Fox News that "part of it was Iran," but he stressed at the same time that he feels no regret over his decision to launch the war, and that he would make it again.
New Majority
The institutional shift begins with the new Congress convening on January 3, as the chairmanship of committees, scheduling of hearings, and powers of subpoena and investigation transfer to the Democratic majority, granting them broader tools to review the administration's performance and hold its officials accountable. The Associated Press reported that Democrats made gains in several states that are traditional Republican strongholds, and seized control of both chambers, a result linked to voter dissatisfaction with rising prices, the US-Iranian war, and concerns about government performance.
The agency also noted that the new majority allows Democrats to block the administration's legislation, reject some appointments, and open investigations into its performance. Control of the Senate is of particular importance due to its role in confirming cabinet, diplomatic, and judicial appointments, while the House of Representatives allows the new majority to control its committees' work and investigative and legislative priorities, placing the White House before more active legislative oversight.
Foreign Policy Facing Legislative Test
The impact of this shift extends to foreign policy files, foremost among them US military operations against Iran, which sparked debate within Congress regarding the president's powers, the cost of military intervention, and the need for legislative authorization to continue it. The Congressional Research Service, in its report on the War Powers Resolution issued on December 17, 2025, clarifies that the US Constitution distributes powers to use military force between the president and Congress, while the War Powers Act requires the president to consult with legislators and inform them in specific cases concerning the introduction of US forces into combat operations.
The law also stipulates the termination of force usage within sixty days of providing notice, unless Congress authorizes it, declares war, or extends the period legally. The Democratic majority would give this file more space for discussion and oversight, including reviewing military objectives, spending on operations, ammunition, and military deployment, but that does not mean stopping operations automatically or changing US policy toward Tehran, as the president retains his executive powers as Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, while imposing actual legislative restrictions requires agreement within both chambers, and any law opposed by the president may face a veto.
Limits of Change
The implications of the results remain contingent on the Democrats' ability to translate their new majority into executable legislative and oversight steps, and on the extent of Republicans' willingness to cooperate or confront on key issues, particularly those related to military spending and the cost of external operations. Data provided by the Associated Press indicates that the new Congress will be able to disrupt parts of Trump's agenda, reject appointments, and hold officials accountable, but it will not have the authority to manage foreign policy or direct military operations unilaterally.
Furthermore, Senate rules requiring sixty votes to end filibusters in most legislation make passing major laws more complex even with a majority. In light of Trump's own admission that the Iranian file contributed to the Republicans' loss, the political cost of external decisions is present in the administration's calculations in the coming period, but his affirmation that he would make the same decision again indicates that acknowledging the war's influence at the ballot boxes does not necessarily mean reviewing the stance toward it.
Source: Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA)
Comments (0)