Midterm defeat raises fears over Trump’s final months in office

The article argues that Donald Trump’s weakened position after a major midterm defeat could make the final stretch of his presidency more unpredictable and raise concerns about the limits of presidential power. Critics fear he may respond to political setbacks by demanding greater loyalty and relying on hardline advisers, though his recent actions have ranged from conciliatory comments to erratic public performances.

Democrats won by 13 percentage points, the second-largest midterm margin since 1942, taking Republican strongholds including Kansas, Mississippi, South Carolina and Texas. The article links the Republican losses to the war in Iran, higher fuel and living costs, and opposition to deadly immigration raids in Minneapolis. Trump has appointed immigration hardliner Stephen Miller as chief of staff, while former homeland security official Miles Taylor warns that loyalists in a weakened administration may be more willing to carry out extreme policies.