Even after the midterm rout of Trumpism, the world struggles to trust America

Midterm voters sharply rejected President Donald Trump’s leadership, giving Democrats control of both houses of Congress and the ability to check his power. Yet the result has not restored international confidence in the United States: people interviewed across several countries said one election cannot erase doubts about America’s reliability or its political direction.

Those doubts stem from Trump’s second-term policies and conduct, including tariffs, immigration, aid cuts and positions on conflicts in Iran, Ukraine and the Middle East. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz questioned whether a Congress controlled by Democrats would change how Trump governs, while commentators said allies need to know what America will return to and for how long. The article says businesses and individuals are waiting to see whether the US consistently respects democratic institutions, the rule of law and international partners.