With several results not yet in, the Democrats looked likely to have a majority of around 13 to 15 seats in the House of Representatives while the Republicans extended their Senate majority from 51 out of 100 seats to 54 or 55.
Trump Faces Post-Election Foreign Policy Opportunity
Trump now had room for maneuver on his foreign policy agenda, but it remained to be seen whether he would take advantage of it, political commentator and professor John Walsh said.
"Let us see whether Trump can now return to his original agenda of ‘getting along’ with Russia and China: That is the big question," Walsh said.
"If you look at his agenda, he wishes to make the United States less the imperial nation and more a normal nation albeit the number one among them. Let us see how this goes," Walsh said.
Even if Trump was blocked from achieving this goal, he had dramatically changed the issues and terms of debate on US foreign policy in national politics, Walsh pointed out.
"Whether he succeeds or not, Trump indicates a turn away from empire not out of humility, but out of the recognition of reality. Let us hope he can carry this as far as possible whether or not he succeeds completely… The farther he goes, the farther we are from war and even nuclear Holocaust," Walsh said.
Whether Trump ultimately succeeds or fails, his success so far signals a recognition — whether profound or dim — that the US unipolar moment is over, Walsh emphasized. "Let us praise the passage of that ugly moment," Walsh said.
"There was entirely too much drama about the midterms. An incumbent in his first term always suffers a loss in the House of Representatives. That is what we saw. And as predicted long ago, the Republicans held the Senate: Surprise," Walsh said.
Trump was likely to face more plots to undermine him from the US security and political establishments, Walsh cautioned.
"Now let us see what the Deep State will do. They can impeach him in the House but not convict him in the Senate should they choose to go that route," he said.
Trump Likely to Be Stalled on Domestic Front
On the domestic front, the best Trump could hope for was a deadlocked Congress, California State University Chico Professor Emeritus of Political Science Beau Grosscup said.
"[In] domestic dynamics, Trump will continue to be Trump but his ‘green light’ and enabling House committee system is no longer there," Grosscup said. "Expect Trump to play the victim (aided by the House Republican Party) when Democrats even mention investigation or impeachment."
Trump would also carry reduced political influence or coattails to help candidates supporting him into the 2020 presidential elections, Grosscup said.