Has the “Boss” lost?

The Netherlands [ENA] Over the next two years, US President Donald Trump is expected to face significant limitations on his ability to govern. This follows the midterm elections held in the United States on November 3, 2026, which dramatically reshaped the country’s political landscape and resulted in a historic and decisive victory for the Democratic Party, widely described as a “tsunami”.

I do not see much point in discussing the election results at length. The media has already covered them extensively. What interests me more is this: how much responsibility does Trump bear for this outcome? In an interview with Fox News, Trump acknowledged that the Democrats had done a good job and said he was willing to work with them on immigration issues. However, on his social media account, he attributed the defeat to the fact that his name had not been on the ballot, saying: “If I had been on the ballot, I would have won by a huge margin.”

José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, who served as Prime Minister of Spain from 2004 to 2011, once made the following observation in a speech: “In the public imagination, there are leaders who decide everything. But when you look behind the scenes, you see how things actually happen. Yes, leaders make the decisions, but they always consider what the Financial Times will say and how the financial markets will react.” I recall reading this statement in Alan Friedman's book, “My Way: The Life of Berlusconi, Told in His Own Words”. In my opinion, Zapatero was right. President Trump, however, failed to take these factors into account, and the consequences for the Republican Party are there for everyone to see.

I believe the war with Iran and the rising cost of energy were among the main reasons for the Republicans’ defeat. The military conflict between the United States and Iran, which began in February, together with disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz, caused global energy prices to rise sharply. Fuel prices in the United States also increased significantly. Voters directly linked this foreign policy decision to the rising cost of everyday living.

In my view, the war with Iran has, on the one hand, prolonged the life of the Iranian regime and, on the other, contributed to the Republican Party’s defeat in the recent elections. It is worth recalling that, before the war, protests against the regime were taking place in Iran from time to time. These demonstrations were markedly different from earlier protests. Once the war began, however, even those who had been dissatisfied with the regime found themselves taking a similar position to it. In other words, they united against a common enemy. This leaves me with one question: who actually benefited from this war?

Trump’s actions and decisions, which seem strange to me and, I suspect, to many others, are not limited to Iran. They also include his actions in Venezuela, his claims regarding Greenland, his position on the war between Russia and Ukraine, and various other issues. In short, no matter how highly Trump thinks of himself, I believe it was precisely his own actions that paved the way for the Democrats’ victory. But what if Trump continues to make decisions that many consider bizarre? Could the Democrats seek to impeach him? As far as I understand, the law allows for this. Having secured majorities in both chambers of Congress, the House of Representatives and the Senate, they have the power to formally initiate the process.

But will they do it? I believe they might, if they come to the conclusion that the world needs a new global order. I once came across a thought that has stayed with me: “Success and fame are not synonyms.” President Trump is a man who loves fame and recognition. Who could forget his declaration, “I'm the boss”, at the G7 summit held in Evian-les-Bains, France, this June? I doubt anyone has. Yet the “Boss” seems to be going from one defeat to another. He failed to secure the Nobel Peace Prize he wanted so badly. He lost that battle too. If he leaves the presidency without receiving the prize, that may well prove to be an even greater defeat for him than his party’s electoral loss.