The beginning of the end of the Donald Trump era, a chance to rebuild democracy, but also a risk on the international stage, where the U.S. president’s moves will be less constrained: that is the picture emerging from British analyses published Wednesday, after Tuesday’s elections in the United States.
“A seismic shock in American politics” – those were the opening words of the BBC’s evening television news broadcast.
“Trump’s strength has always been the control he seemed to exercise over the Republican base, the degree to which his charisma could make voters follow him anywhere. If the scale of the Democrats’ victories is any indication, it seems voters have stopped doing that,” writes Moira Donegan, a columnist for The Guardian.
The Financial Times sees it similarly. “The beginning of the end of the Trump era” is the title of the paper’s editorial, published Wednesday evening. “A strong rebuke from Americans is an opportunity to rebuild American democracy,” the newspaper says.
The FT adds, however, that the result also carries danger. “An embittered and unrestrained Trump could do enormous damage, by resuming his war with Iran or embarking on dangerous new adventures. Nor is it likely that a bitter U.S. leader would become more willing to cooperate with America’s traditional allies in Canada, Europe or anywhere else,” the paper said.
“Hold on tight,” warns Dominic Waghorn, international affairs editor at Sky News. According to him, Trump will soon discover that Congress is blocking him at every turn on domestic policy, and that he also faces investigations ordered by lawmakers. As a result, he may focus on greater activity in foreign policy.
“He may seek further peace deals and look for more opportunities for spectacular photo ops, whether with tyrants such as Kim Jong Un, or at summits with Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin. He may also escalate the war with Iran, persuaded by Israeli allies that he still has a chance to be the president who topples that country’s regime. Other conflicts could begin as well,” Waghorn writes in an analysis published on the broadcaster’s website.
“Trump will try to improve the image of his legacy in every way possible. Who knows what other reckless actions a wounded and angry president could be talked into?” the Sky News commentator asks.
In the midterm elections to Congress, Democrats won a crushing victory, taking both chambers. The party’s candidates won in many traditional Republican “strongholds,” including Kansas and Texas.
From London, Adam Dąbrowski (PAP)
