Several foreign leaders who have clashed with President Donald Trump welcomed the Republican Party’s major losses in the midterm elections, suggesting the Democratic victories could eventually influence U.S. policy abroad.
Democrats won majorities in both the House and Senate in Tuesday’s vote. The change in congressional control is expected to take effect in January and has prompted responses from officials in Europe, the Middle East and Africa.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez criticized Trump’s agenda in a post on X Wednesday. He said the results showed voters had rejected policies that, in his view, worsen economic hardship and promote hatred, sexism, climate denial and privilege for the wealthy. Sánchez also predicted Spain could see a similar political shift.
Sánchez has strongly opposed U.S. and Israeli military action against Iran. In March, he accused Washington of taking reckless risks with millions of lives. His opposition to the war, along with disagreements with Trump over NATO defense spending, has strained relations between Madrid and Washington.
He said Spain would not support actions it considered harmful to the world or contrary to its values simply because it feared retaliation.
European Parliament Vice President Christel Schaldemose described the result as striking and said she was cautiously hopeful for Europe. She noted that the outcome would not automatically improve matters, but could help strengthen support for Ukraine, the green transition and ties with other countries. Schaldemose has also criticized Trump’s interest in Greenland and urged Europeans to be more self-reliant on economic, digital and climate policy.
British Prime Minister Andy Burnham said the election offered world leaders a chance to cooperate on the cost of living and the conflict in the Middle East. He argued that resolving the conflict was necessary to ease the financial pressures facing households.
Trump said in July that he had a productive discussion with Burnham about trade and security. The two governments have since disagreed over Israeli settlements in the West Bank. Britain announced plans in September to expand sanctions related to settlements and restrict British companies from helping build them, drawing criticism from U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee.
Rising energy prices linked to the war in Iran have added to cost pressures for Americans. Affordability was also a central concern for voters during this year’s midterm campaign.
Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Ghalibaf said Wednesday that Americans had rejected war amid worries about the cost of living. He endorsed that message and warned that the U.S. government would face consequences if it ignored voters to serve outside interests.
Japan’s Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara said the election results would not change the U.S.-Japan alliance’s role as the foundation of Japan’s foreign and security policy.
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, meanwhile, said he believed the Democratic victory could usher in a new period in international relations.
Trump and Ramaphosa clashed during a White House meeting in May 2025. Trump showed video he said proved widespread violence against White South African farmers, while Ramaphosa rejected claims that they were being persecuted. Later fact-checks found that some of the footage had been presented inaccurately.
In a post Tuesday night, Trump claimed Republicans would have won by a landslide if his name had been on the ballot. He also congratulated Democrats and said he was prepared to work with the incoming congressional majorities, while warning that he would veto legislation he opposed.
Trump told Bret Baier that Democrats might send him proposals he considered extreme and that he would veto them, but added that the parties would ultimately need to cooperate to pass legislation.
