WASHINGTON — Following a major setback in the U.S. midterm elections that dealt a blow to the second half of his administration, President Donald Trump has signaled a fierce confrontation with the opposition, while simultaneously hinting at a potential diplomatic resolution regarding the ongoing conflict with Iran.

In a social media statement on November 8, President Trump claimed that the recent election results represented a "historic and massive setback" for the nation. He pointed to a sharp one-day drop of $3 trillion in the stock market following the vote, which he blamed squarely on the election outcome. Despite the losses, Trump declared, "Fear not, we will come back bigger and stronger than ever."

Refusing to view the midterm results as a referendum on his leadership, the president indicated that he would continue pushing forward with his core political agenda, relying on the support of the Republican-controlled Senate.

Regarding foreign policy, however, Trump adopted a more measured tone. In a telephone interview with CNN, he suggested that the likelihood of resuming military strikes in the Iran conflict was very low—repeating five times that further attacks could be avoided if Tehran agreed to abandon its nuclear ambitions and guarantee free navigation in the Strait of Hormuz. Meanwhile, in a preview clip of an upcoming CBS interview, Trump remarked that his administration's mass deportation policy targeting undocumented immigrants had been "excessively harsh," though the full context is expected to be revealed when the broadcast airs.

Democrats Prepare for Direct Clash

On Capitol Hill, the Democratic Party, which has newly secured control of Congress, is wasting no time challenging the administration. Lawmakers are gearing up for direct confrontations, targeting key White House figures and pushing for cabinet-level impeachments.

House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries sharply criticized President Trump's appointment of Stephen Miller as the new White House Chief of Staff, dismissing any possibility of bipartisan cooperation. Appearing on ABC News, Jeffries stated, "There is zero possibility of cooperating with Stephen Miller and the forces he represents. We will fight back strongly against extremism."

Jeffries also voiced strong support for a resolution to impeach Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, citing abuse of power and threats to national security. He announced that the impeachment issue would be brought to the floor when Congress reconvenes on Tuesday, predicting overwhelming backing from his caucus.

Additionally, the House Oversight Committee, set to be led by Democrats, is preparing thorough investigations into top aides, including Chief of Staff Miller and Russell Vought, Director of the Office of Management and Budget. Rep. Robert Garcia criticized Miller on CNN as the principal architect behind controversial immigration policies that violate due process and inflict hardship on communities nationwide. Senator Bernie Sanders similarly targeted Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., calling him one of the most dangerous officials in history and vowing to summon him to Congress for accountability.

In response, Attorney General Todd Blanche pushed back against the opposition, accusing Democrats of attempting to intimidate administration officials through baseless investigations and impeachment threats. Blanche asserted that the Department of Justice would directly represent officials like Miller if summoned for congressional inquiries, signaling an intense institutional showdown even before the new Congress officially takes office.

[ⓒ Global Economic Times. 무단전재-재배포 금지]