The global reaction to the US midterm elections has focused on the Democrats’ sweeping victory and what it could mean for Donald Trump’s foreign policy. Newspapers from Europe to Asia described the result as a serious rebuke to the president, while governments offered cautious assessments of its implications.
French newspaper Libération called the result “une vague bleue”, or blue wave. Britain’s Daily Mail described it as a “historic blue tsunami”, while the Times of India ran the headline “midterm blues for Trump”.
In Ukraine, The Kyiv Independent highlighted the prospect of a boost for Kyiv, saying Democrats had seized control of Congress “in blow to Trump, potential boost for Ukraine”.
Russia’s state-run Rossiyskaya Gazeta took a sharply different view, suggesting the outcome could ultimately harm Ukraine. “Brussels, brace yourself. After the Republicans’ defeat, Trump’s wrath will fall on Europe,” its headline read.
The Tehran Times attributed the Republican defeat to Mr Trump’s decision to attack Iran earlier this year. “The Iran war comes home to hit Trump at the ballot box,” it said, citing the conflict’s effect on oil prices, household finances and the cost-of-living crisis.
Iran’s parliament speaker and chief negotiator, Mohammad Baqer Ghalibaf, said on X: “Conscience or the cost of living, Americans said NO TO WAR, and we endorse this message.”
In Israel, attention centred on the implications for US support for the country and its war in Gaza. The Times of Israel focused on the victory of Abdul El-Sayed, a Democrat and Muslim candidate, in the Michigan Senate race, reporting that he had pledged “no money for ‘apartheid, genocide’”.
Haaretz said Mr El-Sayed’s result showed that “opposition to Israel is no barrier to winning battleground states”. His victory came as Israel remained in political uncertainty following elections in which Benjamin Netanyahu lost his parliamentary majority.
Yair Golan, an Israeli opposition leader, said the US results revealed “just how toxic Netanyahu is among both Democrats and Republicans”. Another opposition figure, Yair Lapid, said the outcome “eliminate[d] any possibility of a unity government led by Netanyahu”.
Foreign leaders respond to Democratic victory
Several foreign leaders avoided commenting directly, treating the midterm elections as an internal American matter. Others used the result to signal opposition to Mr Trump’s policies.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, whose relationship with the president has been acrimonious, wrote on X: “Yesterday, American society voted against policies that only impoverish. Against hate. Against machismo. Against climate denialism and against the privileges of the elites.”
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa said: “The people of America have spoken.” He added that the result could “introduce a new era in world relations”, expressing hope for “a coming together of minds” between the two countries.
Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stoere described the result as a “powerful political signal about a change of course among American voters”. He said voices were emerging in US politics closer to Norway’s position on climate, the environment, foreign policy and development aid.
Germany’s Defence Minister Boris Pistorius congratulated the Democrats on an “historic victory”, while stressing that Berlin’s commitment to working with the Washington administration remained unchanged. He said Germany would reach out to both Democrats and Republicans.
In Britain, there was no immediate reaction from Prime Minister Andy Burnham. London Mayor Sadiq Khan, who has frequently clashed with Mr Trump, congratulated the Democrats on “a huge victory” and said their campaign represented “a true rejection of the damaging and divisive politics of Donald Trump”.
China’s foreign ministry described the elections as “an internal affair of the United States”, but said Beijing was willing to continue working with Washington to manage differences and expand co-operation.
Japan’s chief cabinet secretary, Minoru Kihara, said the US alliance remained essential to global peace and stability regardless of the result. He called it the “cornerstone of Japan’s foreign and security policy” amid an increasingly volatile and uncertain international situation.
