Anthony Zurcher: Midterm carnage weakens Trump but he still wields power for now

Democrats swept to control of Congress in Tuesday's midterms, but President Donald Trump keeps considerable authority for the remaining two years of his term, according to the BBC's analysis. Much of what he has done, including tariffs, military action in Venezuela and Iran, and unilateral cuts to money Congress had approved, rested on executive orders instead of legislation. A veto remains available to him, and overriding one would take larger majorities than Democrats will hold.

The larger constraint may be political. Trump has kept Republicans disciplined for two years through favors and threats, yet that grip seems to be slipping. Vice President JD Vance publicly pinned the loss on the Iran war, which Trump started alongside Israel. CBS News, the BBC's U.S. partner, reports the president has asked advisers whether to replace Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, an architect of the conflict; Trump denied this. David Miller, a government professor at American University, expects some Republicans to stress different issues or otherwise create space between themselves and the president.

On Wednesday, Trump said he would probably cooperate with Democrats unless they obstruct, adding that he holds the veto.

Summarized by PolitiKool from BBC’s reporting. Read the full story at BBC →