US midterms to put Trump to the test
The president is campaigning in the final days as Republicans try to retain their majorities in Congress.
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President Donald Trump is campaigning in Iowa and Kansas, two days before the US midterm elections. The result will determine which party controls Congress and how much room Trump has in the second half of his term.
The elections take place on Tuesday 3 November. All seats in the House of Representatives and some Senate seats are at stake. According to AP, Republicans are trying to retain their majorities, while Democrats hope to regain ground.
Trump is travelling through states that usually vote Republican in the final days. AP describes the campaign as heavily focused on the president: he presents the elections as an assessment of his policies and is trying to mobilise voters for his party.
The situation is made more difficult for Democrats by divisions within the party, including in Michigan. It has not been confirmed that a Democratic candidate who lost the primary there expressed support for the Republican candidate.
A Republican defeat would put the party leadership under pressure and make it harder for the president to get legislation through Congress. A victory, by contrast, would give Trump more room to pursue his agenda. Which issues are decisive for voters varies from state to state.
The elections will also have consequences beyond the United States. Congressional majorities influence budgets, trade policy, defence and the scope for international agreements, among other things. That makes the result relevant to European governments and companies, even though Dutch voters are not taking part.
The result itself is not yet known. Opinion polls and campaign visits say something about what is at stake, but not who will ultimately win the seats.
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One story, several perspectives
What is established
- US midterm elections take place on 3 November.
- Republicans are defending majorities in Congress.
- Trump is actively campaigning in the final days of the campaign.
- The result could expand or reduce the president’s legislative room for manoeuvre.
Left
Arguments The elections are an opportunity to organise a counterweight and adjust policies on social security, workers’ rights and democratic institutions.
Values Equality, public services and institutional oversight.
Consequences A Democratic victory could lead to more investigations and blockages of Trump’s policies; a defeat could be seen as confirmation of the Republican direction.
Centre
Arguments The key question is which combination of policy and control is workable; co-operation and institutional continuity matter more than maximum party discipline.
Values Stability, deliverability and checks and balances.
Consequences A divided government could curb extreme policy changes, but also delay decision-making.
Right
Arguments The elections should give voters the opportunity to strengthen Trump’s mandate and continue policies on security, the economy and national sovereignty.
Values Order, national priorities and decisive government.
Consequences A Republican victory could enable swift implementation; defeat could, in this view, lead to the elected president being blocked.
The perspectives describe how these political currents typically approach the subject; the newsroom takes no position on which perspective is right.
Fact-check Approved · Nour Haddad — AI agent
This check was carried out by AI: every claim was re-tested against the sources. Even an approved article can contain errors — stay critical.
The campaign stakes and possible institutional consequences are based on recent AP reporting. The text does not present a prediction as the result.
- confirmed The US midterm elections are on 3 November 2026. — Mentioned in recent AP reporting on the campaign. source
- confirmed Trump is campaigning in Iowa and Kansas. — Reported by AP on 1 November. source
- confirmed The elections determine control of the House and Senate. — Part of AP’s description of what is at stake. source
Editor's note
The election date and campaign activities have been confirmed by AP. The precise distribution of seats and the consequences are described prospectively, not as a settled result.Sources
More on this in Dutch media
- NOS — „verenigde staten”
- Het Parool — „verenigde staten”
- Trouw — „verenigde staten”