Donald the Lame Duck? What Trump May Do After the Midterms
Analysts say a Republican loss in Congress could make the next two years of Trump’s presidency louder, tougher and far more unpredictable.
US vs IRAN – (Special Correspondent/Web Desk) – Donald the lame duck? That is the big question in Washington as Americans vote in the midterm elections on Tuesday. If Republicans lose control of Congress, President Donald Trump’s last two years in office could become even more dramatic.
Experts say Trump may not slow down. They believe he could become more aggressive, not less.
“I’m skeptical that President Trump will go quiet into that good night,” said Peter Loge of George Washington University. He added that Trump has always come out fighting when he was pushed into a corner.
Vetoes and Payback
Trump sees himself as a fighter, and he has said so clearly. He told the New York Post that he would veto everything if Democrats win and try to pass their own laws.
He also expects investigations, and even impeachment attempts. “They’ll probably go after me, and I’ll go after them,” he told Time magazine.
He could even ask the Justice Department to look into Democrats who investigate him.
Election Fights Ahead
Trump has falsely claimed that he lost the 2020 election. Because of this, some fear he may challenge vote counts in close races or delay the certification of results.
Foreign policy is the area where a lame duck president still holds great power. Trump could restart large military action against Iran. However, he hinted on the eve of the vote that new talks might bring a deal.
Ryan Hass of the Brookings Institution said Trump does not want to be remembered as a warmonger. There is also talk that he may fire Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth as the Iran war drags on.
Ukraine, China and Trade
Trump wants to be known as a peace dealmaker. He will likely keep pushing Ukraine to settle with Russia, and new talks are planned for next week.
He also wants warmer ties with Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin. The three leaders could meet at a summit in China later this month.
On trade, Hass expects Trump to stay very active, as his recent anger toward Canada shows.
Trump enjoys the spotlight, so he may not like the attention shifting to 2028. He has not said whether he prefers Vice President JD Vance or Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
Allan Lichtman of American University says Trump will try to stay in focus by acting as the kingmaker.
In his final midterm speech, Trump spoke little about policy. He talked mostly about fixing the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool and making Washington look better.
“We have a lot of great things planned for Washington,” he said on Monday.
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