Democratic Midterm Sweep Offers Hope Abroad, World Watches for Policy Changes/ NEWSLOOKS/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Democrats’ congressional victories brought relief abroad, but interviews across the world revealed persistent doubts about America’s reliability. Business leaders, allies and prospective immigrants said rebuilding trust will require sustained changes in trade, diplomacy and immigration policy. Trump retains substantial executive authority, leaving uncertainty about how much the election will alter Washington’s direction.
Quick Look
- Relief meets caution: International observers welcomed the results without assuming a lasting policy shift.
- Presidential power remains: Trump can still wield considerable influence over foreign affairs, trade and immigration.
- Tariffs are a test: Businesses want to see whether Democrats can deliver promised trade-policy changes.
- Economic consequences: Companies and farmers described pressure from tariffs and war-driven fuel costs.
- Immigration concerns: Visa and green card uncertainty continue to unsettle people planning futures in America.
- Miller promotion: Trump’s choice of Stephen Miller as chief of staff signaled continuity on restrictive immigration policies.
- Trust requires consistency: Interviewees emphasized actions and institutional stability over a single election.
Deep Look
Election Relief Gives Way to Questions About America’s Direction
LONDON — Democrats’ sweeping midterm victories offered a moment of reassurance to people around the world unsettled by President Donald Trump’s policies. But the initial relief quickly gave way to a harder question: whether the United States can become a dependable partner again.
Interviews conducted by The Associated Press across several countries revealed lingering distrust despite voters handing Democrats control of both chambers of Congress.
For Joe Reeve, a 29-year-old London startup founder married to a Ukrainian, the result demonstrated both the strength of American electoral checks and the instability that worries its allies.
“What everybody’s learned,” Reeve said, “is that America’s system does allow for these wild swings. We all know, now, that America has an ability to rotate on a dime and spit in our faces.”
Kim So-jung, a 49-year-old office worker in Yongin, South Korea, said “one election alone does not restore anything.”
“We have to see what they actually do, and see that they are doing something different to gain at least a little trust back.”
Allies Question How Much Congress Can Change
Trump’s tariffs, the Iran war, immigration enforcement and his approach to Israel’s actions in Gaza have strained international confidence in Washington.
The election gave Democrats greater power to investigate the administration and challenge its agenda, but Trump remains president with substantial authority.
“Quite frankly, Trump has largely governed without Congress for the past two years. Why should that change now?” German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said after the results.
Some observers worry that congressional resistance could push Trump toward an even greater focus on foreign policy, where presidents often have more room to act independently.
“For the country’s allies, the question isn’t whether America is back,” Eurasia Group founder and president Ian Bremmer wrote in Think China. “It’s back to what — and for how long?”
Miller Appointment Reinforces Concerns About Continuity
Trump’s post-election appearances, focused heavily on Washington construction projects, offered little clarity about how he would respond to the defeat.
His Friday appointment of Stephen Miller as White House chief of staff also suggested continuity in immigration policy. Miller has been a leading architect of the administration’s restrictive approach.
“I don’t think all is forgiven,” Canadian editor Jen Gerson said during an online discussion.
“The President’s hold on power over two terms is — and ought to remain — a warning sign to Canada and to all of America’s allies.”
For Aditya Surya, a business development manager at Indonesian technology company Synetica, restoring confidence requires consistent conduct.
“For me, regaining trust means seeing America consistently respect democratic institutions, the rule of law and its international partners,” said Surya, 40, of Yogyakarta.
“The election is a good start, but what happens next matters a lot more.”
Tariff Decisions Become an Early Test
Businesses are watching whether Democrats can fulfill promises to reverse parts of Trump’s tariff agenda — and whether the president would accept or veto those changes.
Australian beef producer Hamish McIntyre said the election alone was unlikely to transform U.S. trade policy.
“The midterm result is unlikely, in itself, to fundamentally change the direction of U.S. tariff policy,” said McIntyre, president of the National Farmers’ Federation.
It does not “prevent the administration from continuing to pursue its broader trade agenda,” he added.
Australian farmers are also confronting higher diesel costs linked to the Iran war. The government forecasts a 39% decline in large farm profits.
European Business Leaders Welcome Institutions, Remain Wary of Policy
Ivan Slatkine, president of the Federation of Romandie Enterprises in French-speaking Switzerlandsaid the election demonstrated resilience in American institutions.
That offered some reason for confidence, but he cautioned against expecting a complete reversal.
“Let us not be naive,” Slatkine said. “The ‘America First’ concept is not going to be abandoned anytime soon, and I doubt the new majority will reverse all the decisions made by the president.”
His assessment reflected a broader concern: that congressional turnover may constrain Trump without removing the uncertainty surrounding U.S. policy.
Asian Companies Assess Limited Prospects for Change
Hong Kong businessman Danny Lau hoped the results might ease pressure on his aluminum-coating factory in Dongguan, southern China.
American customers account for more than 30% of its orders, but the business faced a tariff of nearly 81%.
“Trump started the tariff war,” Lau said. “If he loses his influence, would that help at all on the tariff front? At the very least, hopefully he won’t raise them any further.”
Michael Lu, chief executive of southern Chinese gift-box producer Brothersbox, did not expect a dramatic change in Washington’s overall approach to China.
The United States accounts for about 20% of his company’s business.
In Japan, Keidanren Chairman Yoshinobu Tsutsui emphasized that “continuing to strengthen the alliance and economic relations with the U.S. is essential for Japan.”
Tsutsui, whose business federation represents 1,500 companies, said he expected Trump could emerge stronger rather than weaker under divided government.
Immigration Uncertainty Keeps Personal Plans on Hold
For people hoping to build permanent lives in the United States, the election offered no immediate answer to immigration concerns.
Ambika, an Indian citizen working in American information technology, said visa changes and green card restrictions had complicated her plans.
“Recent visa policy changes have left me worried,” she said while visiting family in India.
“I don’t know if … the midterm results would lead to any policy change that could benefit those of us who want to move to the U.S.”
Her uncertainty illustrated how political instability can affect decisions extending far beyond business and diplomacy.
Lasting Trust Depends on What Happens Next
The election produced the largest shift in political power since the post-Watergate contest of 1974, but observers abroad remained cautious about its longer-term meaning.
British commentator Martin McSweeney expressed that concern in his “Truth Matters” newsletter the morning after the vote.
“Time and again, we are presented with these chances for change, only for greed to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory,” he wrote.
“Will this time be different? That’s up to the American people, and that makes me very nervous given past experience.”
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