‘Angry Trump’ upends the balance of power in the U.S. Congress, leaving Trump hamstrung on budgets and appointments [U.S. Midterm Elections]

The November 3 U.S. midterm elections were a verdict against the administration by an “Angry Trump” enraged by inflation, rather than a “Shy Trump.” President Donald Trump, now facing an opposition-controlled Congress, is likely to focus on passing major budget bills, including defense spending, before the new Congress takes office.
According to an exit poll conducted for local media by U.S. polling firm SSRS on the 3rd (local time), 39% of respondents cited the economy (39%) as the most important issue facing the United States. The second-most common choice was “the state of democracy,” selected by 32%, followed by immigration (14%), health care (8%), foreign policy (4%) and crime rates (3%).
Among voters who had cast their ballots, 43% said they voted that day “to express opposition to President Trump.” Another 41% said the president had no influence on their decision to vote. Just 16% said they had voted to support him. Asked whether “government corruption” was a factor in their choice this time, 54% said it was a “decisive factor,” while 36% called it a “major factor.” In response to the same question about the “cost of living,” 49% said it was a decisive factor and 39% considered it a major factor.
President Trump’s job approval rating stood at 38%, the lowest among sitting presidents since former President George W. Bush’s 27% in 2008. As for the parties, the Democratic Party had an approval rating of 46% (54% disapproval), while the Republican Party stood at 41% (59% disapproval).
U.S. elections have long drawn attention to the “Shy Trump” phenomenon, in which Trump supporters who are reluctant to respond to polls or reveal their political leanings turn out in actual elections to support him. But the phenomenon did not appear in this election. Trump wrote on Truth Social that day, “I wasn’t on the ballot (in this election). If I had been, we would have won by a tremendous amount.”
The Democrats campaigned on “affordable living costs” in this election, attacking the Republicans’ inflation policies, and ultimately won majorities in both the House and the Senate. Democratic lawmakers, whose new congressional term begins on January 3 next year, had already announced plans to conduct broad investigations into alleged misconduct by Trump administration officials and the president’s relatives. Newly elected Democratic members of the House may call for Trump’s impeachment. Impeachment requires a two-thirds vote in the Senate. Trump was impeached twice during his first administration but remained in office because of opposition in the Senate.
Moreover, the larger the Democrats’ majority, the more leverage they can wield in negotiations with the Trump administration over the budget and debt ceiling. Trump is also expected to face significant obstacles in exercising his appointment powers. The Senate has the authority to confirm Cabinet members, federal judges and ambassadors.
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