In the midterm elections, Democrats gained control of the US House of Representatives from Trump's Republicans, which is viewed as a reflection on his presidency thus far. This shift in power allows the opposition party to obstruct Trump's domestic plans and increase investigations into his business dealings and potential connections with Russia. However, Trump's influence on foreign policy remains strong, and Democrats are unlikely to significantly impact major issues such as trade with China and relations with Iran. The president's executive powers, particularly in foreign affairs, remain unchanged. Norbert Roettgen, head of the foreign affairs committee in the German Bundestag, emphasized this point in an interview with Deutschlandfunk radio. Peter Trubowitz, director of the United States Centre at the London School of Economics, warned that Trump's potential loss in the House could lead to increased polarization and aggression, similar to what was seen during his campaign. Trubowitz suggested that Trump may focus more on China, Iran, and the Mexican border, and may increase his involvement in foreign policy leading up to the 2020 election. Trump's actions during his first two years in office caused concern among traditional US allies, as he withdrew from the Iran nuclear deal and the Paris climate accord, criticized allies for trade surpluses and lack of defense spending, and cultivated relationships with authoritarian leaders in North Korea, Saudi Arabia, and Russia. Even though few European politicians openly expressed it, there was a hope in Berlin, Paris, and Brussels that American voters would strongly reject Trump's Republicans in the midterms, prompting a change in direction and raising hopes for a change in leadership in 2020. Some European politicians celebrated the Democratic victories 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 over fear, civility over rudeness, inclusion over racism." However, the results did not meet the expectations of a significant "blue wave" as some had anticipated. Republicans were successful in expanding their majority in the Senate, which traditionally has a significant impact on foreign policy. In several prominent House, Senate, and governor races in states like Iowa, Florida, Georgia, and Texas, Republicans closely aligned with Trump were victorious. Roettgen interpreted this as a normalization of Trump and validation that his takeover of the Republican Party has been successful. One area where Democrats may challenge Trump is on Saudi Arabia, following the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. There is growing backlash in Congress and threats to block arms sales. A heightened focus on Russia's alleged interference in the 2016 election could limit Trump's ability to cooperate with President Vladimir Putin. House Democrats may also push for more sanctions against Moscow, potentially targeting European companies involved in the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline. During a conference call with reporters, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov expressed doubt about the possibility of improving Russian-American relations in the near future. Despite trade being an area where presidents can make decisions without congressional approval, European diplomats and analysts anticipate that President Trump will continue to escalate conflicts with China due to domestic issues. Additionally, there is a growing concern that Trump may impose tariffs on car imports from Germany and confront Europe on trade issues. However, a visit by European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker to the White House in June led to a temporary truce. Last month, US Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross accused the EU of delaying progress on trade and stated that Trump's patience had its limits. Jeremy Shapiro, a former State Department official and research director at the European Council on Foreign Relations, believes that Trump is convinced that the EU, particularly Germany, is exploiting the US. Shapiro anticipates that if Trump faces domestic political challenges, he will seek out new conflicts.