In the midterm elections, Democrats gained control of the US House of Representatives from Trump's Republicans, which is seen as a judgment on his presidency so far. This outcome allows the opposition party to thwart Trump's domestic plans and increase investigations into his business affairs and possible connections between his campaign and Russia. However, Trump's authority in foreign policy is still strong, and House Democrats may not be able to significantly impact his major priorities such as the trade dispute with China and his stance on Iran. Norbert Roettgen, head of the foreign affairs committee in the German Bundestag, noted that the president's executive powers, particularly in foreign policy, remain unchanged. Peter Trubowitz, director of the United States Centre at the London School of Economics, believes that Trump may become more aggressive and polarizing if he is defeated in the House. Trubowitz predicts that Trump may focus more on foreign policy issues such as China, Iran, and the Mexican border. He also suggests that Trump's incentive structure has changed and he may dedicate more time to foreign policy leading up to the 2020 elections. Trump's first two years in office caused concern among traditional US allies due to his actions such as withdrawing from the Iran nuclear deal and the Paris climate accord, criticizing trade surpluses and defense spending of allies like Germany, and building relationships with authoritarian leaders in North Korea, Saudi Arabia, and Russia. While not openly stated by many European politicians, there was a desire in Berlin, Paris, and Brussels for American voters to show disapproval of Trump's Republicans in the midterms, in the hopes of leading to a change in direction and increasing the chances of a regime change in 2020. Some European politicians viewed the Democratic gains in the House as evidence of a shift. Frans Timmermans, the first vice president of the European Commission, praised Americans for choosing "hope over fear, civility over rudeness, inclusion over racism." However, the results did not meet the expectations of a "blue wave" that some had anticipated, as Republicans were able to strengthen their majority in the Senate, which traditionally has a significant role in foreign policy. In multiple prominent House, Senate, and governor races in states like Iowa, Florida, Georgia, and Texas, Republicans closely aligned with Trump emerged victorious, leading to a normalization of Trump's influence and confirming his successful takeover of the Republican Party. Democrats may be able to constrain Trump's actions, particularly regarding Saudi Arabia and the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, as well as by focusing on Russia's alleged election meddling, limiting Trump's ability to cooperate with President Vladimir Putin. Additionally, Democrats in the House could advocate for tougher sanctions against Moscow, potentially targeting European companies involved in the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov expressed confidence that there are no positive signs for improving Russian-American relations in the near future. Despite Congress not needing to approve trade decisions, many European diplomats and analysts predict that President Trump will continue to engage in conflict with China and may escalate it due to domestic issues. Trump's troubles at home also make it more likely that he will follow through on threats to challenge Europe on trade, such as imposing tariffs on car imports from Germany. A visit to the White House by European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker in June temporarily eased tensions. However, in the previous month, US Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross criticized the EU for delaying advancements in trade and mentioned that Trump's tolerance has its limits. Jeremy Shapiro, a former State Department official and current research director at the European Council on Foreign Relations, stated that Trump strongly feels that the EU, particularly Germany, is exploiting the US. Shapiro also anticipates that if Trump faces difficulties domestically, he will seek out new conflicts.