The U.S. midterm election results have shaken the Republican Party. Recently, Trump’s close associates have called for a staff reshuffle and policy reviews regarding both the Iran war and tax measures, while the Vice President has begun signaling distance from Trump.
President Donald Trump is facing pressure from Republican members and party political strategists to change his governance approach after a heavy defeat in the midterm elections on 3 November, where Democrats won and took control of both chambers of Congress, and many candidates supported by Trump lost key races.
Trump’s political allies are urging him to restructure the White House team, reorganize the new government’s operations, and cancel or review policies seen as causes of the defeat, particularly the war with Iran and import tax measures that have pressured Republican popularity.
John Feehery, a senior Republican political strategist, called this election a major disaster for Trump, stating that the president needs to overhaul the system and change his team significantly because his political power will gradually weaken from now on.
However, Trump has shown no signs of changing course, telling Fox News on Tuesday night that he does not view the election results as a personal defeat reflecting on him.
Democrats Take Control of Congress, Paving the Way to Oversight of Trump Administration
With Democrats controlling both chambers of Congress, the party gains the power to block Trump’s legislation, oversee the administration’s work, and oppose presidential nominations to key positions.
This situation may push Trump to rely more on executive power to advance desired policies despite legislative opposition, which could also increase government scrutiny by Congress.
Meanwhile, this defeat may affect the Republican Party’s future, especially politicians positioning themselves as Trump’s successors aiming for the 2028 presidential election.
One such figure is J.D. Vance, U.S. Vice President, viewed as a political heir likely to inherit Trump’s support base. On Wednesday, Vance stated that the Iran war was one reason Republican candidates lost in the midterms, signaling a distancing from Trump.
Republican strategists and officials believe that if party members begin to think Trump has lost influence over the base, divergent stances from the president may occur more frequently.
White House Morale Declines Amid Team Changes and Government Investigations
Inside the White House, senior officials are preparing for possible staff resignations, cabinet reshuffles, and investigations by Democratic members of Congress.
An anonymous senior official revealed that morale among White House staff is very low. They noted that internal party polls about six weeks before the election already signaled likely losses in both chambers, but Trump continued the Iran war despite warnings about political consequences.
The official also said Trump ignored warnings from his circle. Previously, the president admitted that the eight-month-long Iran war affected Republican candidates but still defended the decision to launch military operations.
Besides the Iran war, other Trump policies upset some voters, especially his focus on constructing a new White House banquet hall and renovating various buildings and areas in Washington.
A Republican political advisor disclosed that polling in key battleground states like Michigan and Iowa showed Republican supporters and independent voters growing dissatisfied with Trump’s emphasis on these projects.
Nevertheless, despite criticism, Trump visited the White House banquet hall construction site on Wednesday, affirming the project helps him relax.
Meanwhile, the White House maintained a defiant stance toward the defeat by releasing images of Trump on social media with the message "Trump remains your president."
Although losing control of Congress, Trump still holds significant executive power. Reports indicate the White House is preparing executive measures on immigration, taxes, housing, and federal budget spending to advance some policies without Democratic approval.
However, using executive power cannot shield the administration from congressional oversight, which may become a major challenge for Trump during the final two years of his presidency.
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