Democrats win US midterms and vow to rein in Trump

Democrats have claimed a major victory in the US midterm elections, saying they will use their new strength in Congress to restrain President Donald Trump. The result points to a divided government in Washington for the next two years and sets up a period of likely confrontation over spending, policy and oversight. According to the reported results, Democrats took control of the Senate and made substantial gains in the House of Representatives.

The reported Senate margin was at least 54 seats to 44, after Democrats flipped seats in states that are usually strongly Republican. They also gained at least 30 seats in the House, strengthening their position in the lower chamber. The report said the outcome followed a wave of voter anger over Mr Trump's policies, with the US-Iran war cited as a factor that pushed up the cost of living.

House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries said the incoming majority would focus on affordability and accountability. He said Democrats did not work for Mr Trump and argued that the days of the House functioning like a wholly owned subsidiary of his administration were over. New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani also urged his party to respond to voters worried about rising prices and the condition of schools and roads, saying it was not enough simply to win power.

The result matters because it changes the balance of power in Washington at a time when economic pressure is already shaping political debate. With Democrats controlling both chambers, Mr Trump will face a Congress that can challenge his agenda more directly, even if he retains the veto. That raises the prospect of legislative deadlock, sharper oversight and a more difficult path for the White House on domestic priorities.

The report also places the election in the context of Mr Trump's second term, which has already become a test of how far he can push his programme with Congress aligned behind him. It said this is the first time he will have to deal with a Democratic-controlled Congress in both chambers while in office. Mr Trump, who previously held the White House from 2017 to 2021, acknowledged the possibility of working with Democrats but said he had the power of the veto if they became destructive.

His first public appearance after the election focused less on the result than on the White House ballroom he is building. He also referred to other renovation work, including changes linked to the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, before briefly addressing the election outcome. The contrast between the president's remarks and the Democrats' message of affordability and accountability underlines the political divide that the vote has exposed.

The immediate question is how quickly Democrats can turn the result into practical leverage in Congress. It is not yet clear which specific bills or investigations will be prioritised, or how much room there will be for compromise. What to watch next is whether the new balance in the Senate and House leads to sustained gridlock, selective deals, or a more aggressive effort by Democrats to block Mr Trump's agenda.

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