A sigh of relief for the world, but the biggest risk remains in the White House
Call it a blue wave, call it a tsunami, but the historic nature of the US midterm election win for Democrats also has all the hallmarks of a country walking back from a cliff edge.
After two years of President Donald Trump’s power being left unchecked by a pliant Republican-dominated Congress, the American people turned out to vote decisively against teetering over the edge and in favour of rebalancing the scales. Trump may have fumed that he was not on the ballot before grudgingly conceding his ill-conceived war in Iran was a factor in the Republican defeat in both the House and the Senate, but only someone in deep denial of reality could see the result as anything other than a repudiation of his administration, if not the man himself.
Reality TV star, convicted felon, assassination attempt survivor and two-time president: that Trump has morphed from political wrecking ball into force that has shifted the world has been well documented. What began as an isolationist, America-first doctrine has morphed into an interventionist one that has waged a war in the Middle East that has ended up hurting his citizens and his own standing.
The world could be forgiven for breathing a collective sigh of relief. Fresh faces have been elected and Hakeem Jeffries, the leader of the House Democrats and probably its first black speaker, has said the party understands it needs to deliver “dramatic change”. He said on Tuesday after the results were clear: “Things are broken. We need a Congress that puts the American people first.”
However, the Democrats would be wise to treat this as a repudiation of the Trump administration rather than a victory for themselves. The party must take a sensible approach to its new position, knowing that while he has lost the legislature, Trump continues to hold executive power, can veto laws and has been unafraid to wield the black Sharpie on executive orders that have had a chilling effect. He has also proven immune to impeachment proceedings, and as the events of January 6, 2021, showed, Trump is unafraid to stoke violence if he thinks there is advantage to him.
The Democrats have congressional and gubernatorial numbers on their side, and the weight of millions of votes in their column, but they also have a responsibility to approach governing responsibly. While at times in the past two years it has felt the very idea of democracy was under attack from the White House, the Democrats have the opportunity to take a more measured approach. They must investigate and interrogate the administration without descending into vindictiveness for its own sake.
The Democrats must also be alive to hubris. It was not that long ago Trump seemed a spent force, but the Biden administration’s abject failings, particularly in its later years, opened the door to his return.
For now, the world spins with a greater sense of balance. While Trump remains in office, there is always a risk it can shift on its axis.
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