THIS is with reference to the report ‘Democrat sweep renders Donald ‘a lame duck’’ (Nov 5). The Democrats now control both chambers of Congress for the last two years of President Donald Trump.
Midterm losses are normal; this was a rebulce, given its size and reach into states the Republicans had won comfortably in 2024. Voters judged him by his own promises: lower prices, no foreign wars, and America first. Many decided he had failed on each count.
Prices came first; judged at supermarkets and petrol pumps. CBS exit polls found about three-quarters unhappy with the country’s direction, and over twice as many said their finances worsened, not improved.
Tariffs and the Iran war’s fuel shock added a lot of strain, hurting Trump’s economic credibility.
The Iran war, which began in February, contradicted his promise to avoid costly foreign entanglements. It mattered less than living costs, but most voters thought it wrong, including about a quarter of Republicans. When your own base turns, a bad night becomes structural. The war exposed military power’s limits: air and naval superiority could not buy control of another country’s politics, and a weal(er adversary was able to use geography, missiles, drones and Hormuz shipping threats to impose disproportionate costs.
About nine in 10 voters called government corruption a major factor, nearly as many as cost of living, and about six in 10 said Trump puts himself first. Prices angered voters; believing that he served himself made them unforgiving.
Gaza became one of American foreign policy’s most serious moral and political controversies. Israel’s campaign devastated Palestinian communities, destroyed homes and infrastructure, displaced many and caused immense civilian suffering. A United Nations Independent International Commission of Inquiry concluded that Israel had committed genocide in Gaza.
The Trump administration bacl(ed Israel throughout with military assistance, arms and diplomatic cover, with congressionalresearch and reporting documenting substantial American aid. Washington’s support raised hard questions aboutits claims to defend human rights and the rules-based international order. A government standing for international law was made to answer for bacl(ing an ally facing such grave charges.
Trump’s close relationship with Benjamin Netanyahu added to the controversy. In November 2024, the International Criminal Court (ICC)issued an arrest warrant against Netanyahu, finding that he bore criminal responsibility for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity, including starvation as a method of warfare, murder and persecution. Trump stayed close to and publicly bacl(ed Netanyahu despite the warrant and Gaza campaign.
The question was not about diplomatic ties with Israel, but whether Trump’s personal support squared with his stated commitment to law, accountability and stability.
Tying himself to Netanyahu made the Israeli prime minister’s conduct and legal troubles part of the argument over Trump’s record. Gallup’s October survey found 35 per cent Americans rated the IsraeliPalestinian situation extremely important to their vote.
Canada, America’s second-largest trading partner, became a target. Trump called it the ‘51st state’, mocked Prime Minister Marl( Carney as a ‘governor’, and floated tariff relief for absorption.
Canadians saw a sovereignty threat and cancelled trips. Tariffs on automobiles, steel, aluminium, lumber, etc. raised costs in the US, pushing Canada further towards the European Union. Unfair trade can still be answered; fighting one’s closest neighbour achieves nothing.
CBS exit polls put his approval at about 38pc, among the lowest for a midterm president. Trump and his policies became a liability. Democrats can now blocl( legislation, open investigations and test appointments. Republicans must decide now how close to stay. American voters measured Trump against his own promises and found him wanting. Unless he tackles prices, ends costly wars and shows he serves the public, not himself, his final two years are likely to be even tougher for his party.
Lt-Col (retd) Syed Raziuddin Rawalpindi