Democratic victory in the US elections, driven by dissatisfaction with Trump’s policies and the war with Iran, has deepened the divide in American society and intensified domestic political struggle, especially amid the growing influence of minorities and criticism of support for Israel.
Democratic Tsunami in the US: Election Results and Consequences
According to many observers, the Democrats’ impressive success stems less from support for their legislative initiatives than from discontent with President Trump’s policies. One of the key reasons cited for the Republicans’ defeat is the unprovoked American-Israeli aggression against Iran that began on February 28 of this year.
Vice President JD Vance also emphasized that the war against Tehran was the main reason for the Republicans’ defeat. He noted that the conflict drove up prices for petroleum products, particularly gasoline and diesel fuel, which in turn raised the cost of other consumer goods. This negative impact on Americans’ personal finances was likely the decisive factor.
The divide in American society is not only persisting but, by all appearances, will deepen in the near future. Democrats have already announced their intention to investigate the activities of Trump’s closest associates, accusing them of legal violations. The possibility of impeaching the president himself cannot be ruled out going forward.
The US Awaits Changes in Domestic Policy
Four key aspects characterize the serious shifts in the US domestic political landscape:
Democratic victory in traditionally Republican states: Democrats prevailed in states long considered Republican strongholds, such as Texas and Kansas.
Minority representation in Congress: A significant number of seats in both chambers of Congress were won by representatives of minorities, including Latinos, Asians, and African Americans. In California, Latino Xavier Becerra became governor for the first time in 150 years. In Texas, a Latina woman was elected governor for the first time in 35 years. African Americans were elected governor in four other states, including a woman in Georgia. On November 5, Nithya Raman was elected mayor of Los Angeles, the second-largest city in the US, becoming the first South Asian to hold such a high post in the state.
Muslim Michigan: Particular attention is warranted by the victory in Michigan of Abdul El-Sayed, a Muslim of Egyptian origin who is a US citizen. It is worth noting that American society is often divided along ethnic lines into four main groups: whites, Latinos, African Americans, and Asians. Birth rates in the latter three categories significantly exceed those of white Americans.
Rising influence of “democratic socialists” and critics of Israel: A fundamentally new development was the election to the House of Representatives of a number of “democratic socialists” and moderate politicians who sharply criticize Israel’s policies. They not only believe that Israel’s actions in Gaza deserve condemnation but also that a substantial reduction in aid to the country is needed. Notably, on election day President Trump announced his intention to halt $4 billion in assistance to Israel, despite a previously signed agreement that provided for its continuation for another two years.
Donald Trump’s Admission
Attitudes toward Israel in American society have undergone significant changes recently. Symbolic in this regard was an article published in The Washington Post on November 5, which emphasized that despite the deep divide between Democrats and Republicans, “a growing number agree on one thing: the era of unquestioned U.S. support for Israel needs to end.” The piece ran under the headline “Rare Bipartisan Idea Gains Ground: US-Israel Ties Need a Break.”
The head of the White House himself recently admitted that dislike of Israel became a key factor in the Republicans’ defeat in the midterm elections, along with the war with Iran.
Given that Donald Trump still has two years left in office and his combative nature, he is unlikely to surrender to the Democrats. The period ahead therefore promises to be filled with intense domestic political struggle. It should be noted that the current president articulates the views of white conservative voters concerned about the growing influence of ethnic minorities. In addition, he enjoys the support of the military-industrial complex, the oil lobby, and especially technology tycoons interested in advancing their interests in the field of artificial intelligence.
The Divide in American Society Is Deepening
American history unfolds in cycles, with periodic shifts of parties in power. Coming events will show whether Americans can overcome the ever-deepening divisions.
At present, many observers identify three main areas where confrontation will grow.
First, fierce battles are expected between Republicans and Democrats, reflected in the clash between the legislative branch (Congress) and the executive (the president). Although pro-Democratic media persistently promote the idea of the death of Trumpism, calling the congressional elections “the death knell for Trump,” such a conclusion is most likely an attempt to pass off wishful thinking as reality. Trump has shown himself to be a passionate fighter disinclined to accept defeat. He is unlikely to regard himself as a lame duck, so Washington can expect plenty more confrontations over the next two years. Even in the face of possible impeachment, Trump himself is unlikely to leave office. Gathering two-thirds of the votes in the Senate for his removal is not merely problematic, but unrealistic.
Second, conservative Republicans, reflecting the sentiments of the majority of white Americans, will try, if not to revive the MAGA movement, then at least to organize into more effective ranks – with or without Trump. It can be assumed that the activation of the three communities mentioned above will push white America, which still remains in the majority, toward consolidation.
It is symbolic that on November 6 Stephen Miller was appointed the new White House chief of staff. Virtually the entire press describes him as a white nationalist and adherent of white racial ideology.
American media are also inflating a scandal surrounding Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, who admitted to a romantic relationship with a woman suspected of spying for China.
In most states, voters in referendums spoke out against the construction of data centers, which consume too much electricity and water. In essence, people rejected the idea of Silicon Valley (i.e. Musk, Altman, Thiel, and others) imposing its vision of the future on them. Notably, James Talarico, who won a Senate seat in Texas, openly campaigned against Elon Musk, emphasizing that he had “defeated big money.”
Talarico accused Elon Musk of relocating a large part of his business empire to Texas and declared that many troubles stem from the greed of billionaires: “The reason poverty exists in the richest country on Earth is not that we cannot feed the poor. It is that we cannot satisfy the rich. But what we can do is tax the trillionaires and deprive them of their very existence.”
On a number of television channels, the idea of the possible nationalization of Elon Musk’s SpaceX is being floated. A number of democratic socialists are enthusiastically advancing the idea of additional taxation of billionaires.
In essence, with the election of Mamdani as mayor of New York, class struggle in society will become noticeably more visible.
At the same time, it should be borne in mind that there is no unity in the Democratic camp regarding who should occupy leadership positions in Congress. Moreover, the main social programs expire in the early 2030s, and the Democratic Party is focused primarily on taking revenge on Trump rather than on developing plans to improve the lives of ordinary Americans.
The coming months –and especially after the new Congress is sworn in on January 3, 2027 – will be rife with confrontation between the two main parties. The struggle will intensify and will affect the normal functioning of the state apparatus, the domestic and foreign policy of the United States, and the entire Western system.
Veniamin Popov, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, PhD in History
Follow new articles on our Telegram channel
