The victory of the Democrats jeopardizes Donald Trump's military initiatives
The victory of the Democratic Party in the midterm elections in the United States jeopardized the implementation of major defense projects of American President Donald Trump, including the Golden Dome missile defense system and the Golden Fleet program. This is reported by Axios with reference to an analytical note by the TD Cowen Washington Research Group.
"The projects promoted by Trump are doomed to failure," the analytical note says. The group estimates that other key initiatives will also face funding constraints.
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The Golden Dome is a US project to create a multi–level missile defense system to protect the American mainland from ballistic, hypersonic and cruise missiles, including nuclear ones, as well as UAVs.
Trump raised the issue of developing such a missile defense system during his first term, but then the project was never launched. After being re-elected for a new term, on January 27, 2025, Trump signed a decree on the creation of a global missile defense system.
Trump's plans to upgrade the US navy and create a "Golden Fleet" became known in October 2025. The Golden Fleet will have to be able to withstand threats from China. The new fleet is expected to include a number of large warships with more powerful long-range missiles and smaller ships such as corvettes.
A Democratic victory could also strengthen parliamentary control over the Pentagon, Axios notes. Discontent over the war with Iran, which has been going on for more than six months, may accelerate Congressional investigations. Lawmakers from both parties, including Democrat Pat Ryan and Republican Thomas Massie, have considered the possibility of impeaching Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
In addition, several influential Republicans involved in defense issues lost the election or were inferior to their rivals. In particular, the chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Susan Collins, lost in Maine, and Congresswoman Jen Kiggans lost to Democrat Elaine Luria in Virginia.
Democratic Senator Kirsten Gillibrand told Axios that Hegseth would have to answer for his actions. At the same time, Trump told reporters that he was not considering the possibility of dismissing the minister.
According to RBC, according to the preliminary results of the midterm elections held on November 3, the Democratic Party gained control of both houses of the US Congress. According to preliminary estimates, the Democrats will win 258 of the 435 seats in the House of Representatives, with 218 required for a majority. They secured 54 seats in the Senate against 44 for the Republicans. The results of two Senate races – in Mississippi and Alaska – have not yet been determined.
The leader of the Democrats in the Senate, Chuck Schumer, promised to end the conflict with Iran, noting that "the American people do not understand what we are fighting for in Iran." According to Schumer, Democrats will conduct investigations and lawsuits against the Trump administration.
Trump, in turn, attributed the Republican defeat in the election to the war with Iran and the subsequent rise in gasoline prices in the United States.
