HE politics of toxicity and confrontation at home and abroad have led to a severe setback for American President Donald Trump. His Republican Party experienced a drubbing at Tuesday’s midterm polls, with the Democrats riding a decisive blue wave to power in both houses of the US Congress, and taking control of the American government’s legislative arm. The Democrats managed wins in deeply red states, indicating the widespread dissatisfaction with Mr Trump’s style of governance. For most Americans, the unpopular war of choice with Iran and the cost-of-living crisis it has led to were reason enough to punish the Republicans at the ballot box. Mr Trump, referring to the electoral pummelling, admitted that ‘part of it was Iran’.
While domestically the economy and the Trump administration’s abrasive immigration policies are likely to dominate the agenda, the rest of the world would like to know if America will change course on the foreign front. In his second term, Mr Trump has turned the old international order upside down, pushed around old allies, downplayed climate change, and talked of taking over other states’ territory. His biggest foreign folly in partnership with Israel has been the war against Iran. Perhaps feeling the heat, just before the midterms, Mr Trump had announced he was ending a multibillion-dollar aid programme to Israel. It is unlikely the decision was a moral one emanating from genuine displeasure with the Zionist state’s murderous policies. More likely, it was a last-ditch attempt to court MAGA voters, many of whom increasingly question the subservience of the American political class to Israel at the expense of their own country.
In fact, expectations of a radical shift on the foreign policy front may be premature. For one, Democratic presidents, too, have launched foreign wars, and many among the supposedly ‘liberal’ party are staunch votaries of Israel. Moreover, while the Democrats will enjoy greater legislative oversight, partially limiting Mr Trump’s ability to wage and fund foreign wars, the president retains veto powers that can override Congress. This means that those Democrats and Republicans opposed to American military action abroad must make a serious effort to halt strikes on Iran and prevent taxpayers’ dollars from funding Israel’s genocidal campaigns against the Palestinians. While Mr Trump does not usually learn from his errors, perhaps seeing the response of the American voters he may attempt a wiser course. Candidate Trump had promised no more ‘forever wars’ President Trump must now extricate himself from a needless war he launched against Iran. It is time he heeded the call of the voters and worked on rebuilding and uniting his country, instead of destroying others.