Democrats Win House but Analysts See Little Room to Curb Trump Tariffs

American voters handed the Democratic Party control of the House of Representatives in the midterm elections, dealing a blow to President Donald Trump, The Jakarta Post reported.

Voters delivered their verdict on the Republican Party on Tuesday, hurting from nagging inflation and the high cost of living that have defined Trump’s second term, according to scmp.com.

The sweeping congressional victory raises immediate questions across Southeast Asia about whether Washington might soften its trade policy toward the region. As noted by The Jakarta Post, experts believe Congress has minimal capacity to halt his tariff initiatives, even though the altered power dynamics make it harder for the president to push through his priorities over the coming two years.

“I do not think it will make as much difference as might be expected,” said Deborah Elms, head of trade policy at the Asia-based Hinrich Foundation. Speaking to The Jakarta Post, Elms added that Trump “loves tariffs” and firmly believes they will deliver manufacturing jobs to the United States.

Elms cautioned that Trump might actually double down on trade measures over the next two years. That outcome becomes especially likely if his domestic agenda stalls under heavy congressional opposition and mounting investigations.

The president retains the power to veto legislation passed by Congress, acting as a major roadblock for the opposition. Because Democrats failed to secure a two-thirds majority in both chambers, they cannot override a presidential veto.

That arithmetic makes any attempt by lawmakers to legislate away the White House’s tariff powers exceedingly difficult, The Jakarta Post reported. In parallel, scmp.com noted that Trump has disrupted international commerce through a random strategy on tariffs while also initiating a conflict with Iran that caused petroleum costs to skyrocket.