Trump’s midterm rout exposes the cost of choosing the wrong friends

The political honeymoon between US President Donald Trump and some of the influential figures surrounding Bangladesh’s Muhammad Yunus may be heading for an uncomfortable reckoning. The November 3 midterm elections have delivered a sweeping setback to Trump’s Republican Party, with Democrats projected to take control of both chambers of Congress. And from Dhaka, one of the most prominent beneficiaries of Bangladesh’s August 2024 political transition has wasted little time in celebrating the Republican defeat and openly speculating about Trump’s possible impeachment. The message should not be lost on Washington: political friendships built on convenience can prove remarkably unreliable.

The American midterm results represent a major reversal for Trump. Democrats captured Senate seats in several traditionally Republican states, including Texas, Kansas, Ohio, North Carolina and South Carolina, while also making substantial gains in the House of Representatives. The Associated Press reported that Democrats had secured control of Congress, giving them the power to obstruct Trump’s legislative agenda, challenge his nominees and launch investigations into his administration.

The outcome is particularly significant because Trump had made himself central to the Republican campaign. His political fortunes were therefore directly exposed to the electorate’s verdict on his administration’s performance, including economic concerns, tariffs, immigration policies and the war involving Iran.