White House reportedly plans to govern without Congress if Democrats win

Midterms on 3 November could split Congress

Americans vote on Tuesday, 3 November 2026, to elect a new House of Representatives and part of the Senate. The Republicans currently control both chambers. Polls give Democrats a good chance of taking the House, while the battle for the Senate is heading for a cliffhanger. Trump spent recent weeks campaigning through several key states to head off a defeat. A De Morgen commentary goes further and argues that the Republicans risk losing the House, the Senate or both, since Trump has not delivered on his promise of a new golden age for ordinary Americans.

White House plans for life without Congress

Reuters reports that the Trump administration has spent months developing scenarios to keep its policies in place if Democrats win a majority in Congress. Preparations began in April, more than half a year before the vote. Senior adviser Stephen Miller and budget director Russell Vought were among the officials who worked with White House lawyers on the question. Their task was to map the areas where the president could act without parliamentary approval, including immigration, import tariffs, housing and government spending. Lawyers are also testing how far Trump can stretch his presidential powers and how his decisions would hold up if challenged in court.

A Democratic majority would largely halt Trump's legislative agenda, from blocking budget spending to holding up key judicial appointments in the Senate. Trump has nonetheless bypassed Congress repeatedly since returning to office at the start of 2025, using presidential orders on import duties, cuts to the civil service and strict immigration policy. Options now on the table reportedly include new import duties on critical minerals and wind turbines, as well as stricter visa rules.

Economic pressure and the war in Iran

De Morgen cites a calculation by The Economist that US import tariffs cost an average household $1,100 this year. High oil prices linked to the war in Iran would double that amount again. The One Big Beautiful Bill softens the blow only slightly, since its tax cuts mostly favour wealthy Americans, while access to food stamps is being restricted. A recent Pew Research Center poll found that nearly two-thirds of Americans think Trump is damaging the economy. About a third of Republican party members and voters share that view.

Democrats weigh impeachment and party unity

Democrats could face strong pressure to start impeachment proceedings if they take the House. House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries has so far kept calls for removal in check, but a De Standaard commentary argues that the pressure would grow after a win. The same commentary warns that Trump would likely survive impeachment, as he did twice in his first term, and that a long fight could absorb the energy needed to offer voters an alternative over the next two years. Israel's war in Gaza remains a divisive issue inside the party. After losing the Michigan primary to Abdul El-Sayed, Haley Stevens openly attacked his position on Israel and even endorsed the Republican candidate.

Trump's possible reaction after a defeat

Commentary in De Morgen worries that Trump would become an 'angry duck' after a poor midterm result, a president less willing to accept defeat than a typical lame duck. The 80-year-old president has reportedly grown preoccupied with triumphal arches, ballrooms and fountains, and the column expects him to focus even more on his legacy in Washington, D.C. In the worst case, he would vent frustrations abroad, straining ties with traditional European allies. The column also expects Trump to resume the war against Iran after the midterms, pointing to seven new navy ships he sent in early October. Trump has repeatedly hinted at a third term, which the US constitution rules out.