According to Victor Davis Hanson, a senior contributor to The Daily Signal, the Democratic Party's expected gains in the midterm elections may not necessarily paralyze President Donald Trump's ability to govern. Historically, the party occupying the White House tends to lose House and Senate seats in midterm elections, with 90% of elections resulting in House seat losses and 75% resulting in Senate seat losses since 1900.
Hanson notes that past presidents, such as Bill Clinton and Barack Obama, were able to continue implementing their policies despite losing control of Congress. Clinton worked with Republican leaders to pass balanced budgets, while Obama used executive orders to bypass Congress on issues like the Iran deal and the Paris climate accord.
As a result, Hanson suggests that Trump may be able to continue pursuing his agenda, particularly in foreign policy, where presidents have historically had more latitude to act unilaterally. However, Trump's ability to do so will depend on the level of solidarity among Republican senators, who will need to support his vetoes in order to prevent Democratic legislation from passing.
Hanson also observes that presidents who lose control of Congress often see their popularity increase, as they are able to position themselves as being above the political fray. This could potentially happen with Trump, particularly if the Democratic Party overreaches in its newfound power.