Democrats have gained control of the US House of Representatives from Trump's Republicans in the midterm elections, which were viewed as a judgment on his presidency. This allows the opposition party to obstruct Trump's domestic plans and increase investigations into his business dealings and potential ties to Russia. However, Trump's authority in foreign policy remains strong, with Democrats possibly pushing for a tougher stance on Saudi Arabia and Russia. Nonetheless, they are unlikely to make significant changes in Trump's key areas such as the trade dispute with China and his approach towards Iran. Norbert Roettgen, head of the foreign affairs committee in the German Bundestag, stated that the president's wide-ranging powers in foreign policy remain unaffected. Peter Trubowitz, director of the United States Centre at the London School of Economics, warned that Trump may become even more polarizing and aggressive if he is defeated in the House. Trubowitz suggested that Trump could focus more on issues related to China, Iran, and the Mexican border, and may prioritize foreign policy in the lead up to the 2020 election. Trump's first two years in office were marked by actions that unsettled traditional US allies, 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. Although not many European politicians openly expressed it, there was a desire in Berlin, Paris, and Brussels for American voters to give a clear rejection to Trump's Republicans in the midterms, in the hopes of prompting a change in direction and increasing the chances of a change in leadership 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, stated that Americans had opted for "hope instead of fear, civility instead of rudeness, and inclusion instead of racism." However, the results did not meet the expectations of a significant "blue wave." Republicans were able to strengthen their majority in the Senate, which traditionally has a significant impact on foreign policy. In multiple prominent races for the House, Senate, and governor positions in states like Iowa, Florida, Georgia, and Texas, Republicans who are closely aligned with Trump have emerged as winners. Roettgen views this as a sign of Trump's normalization and the success of his "hostile takeover" of the Republican Party. Democrats may be able to control Trump's actions on Saudi Arabia due to the backlash in Congress over the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. Additionally, focusing more on Russia's alleged interference in the 2016 election could limit Trump's ability to cooperate with President Vladimir Putin. Democrats in the House could also advocate for stricter sanctions against Moscow, including measures that target European companies involved in the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov expressed doubt that there are any positive signs for improving Russian-American relations in the near future. He mentioned that trade is an area where presidents have more autonomy to act, and many European diplomats believe that Trump will continue to focus on the conflict with China. Despite domestic challenges, Trump may also target Europe on trade issues, such as imposing tariffs on car imports from Germany. However, a meeting in June between European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker and Trump at the White House helped ease tensions. Last month, US Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross accused the EU of delaying trade progress and mentioned that Trump's patience has its limits. Jeremy Shapiro, a former State Department official who now works as research director at the European Council on Foreign Relations, stated that Trump strongly feels that the EU, particularly the Germans, are exploiting the US. Shapiro also predicted that if Trump faces political challenges domestically, he will seek out new conflicts.