A political earthquake in the U.S. could force Donald Trump to play by new rules. The loss of control over Congress, investigations into his inner circle, and discontent among some Republicans could significantly limit the president’s options – particularly on issues concerning Ukraine and Russia.
Boris Pinkus, a public figure and president of the Ronald Reagan Republican Club, explained in an exclusive interview with 24 Channel why the midterm election results were a serious blow to Trump, how Congress can influence his policies, and whether Ukraine will receive more support from Washington.
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The “Blue Tsunami” and the Loss of Texas: A Verdict on Isolationist Policy
The election results revealed an unprecedented trend: The Republicans suffered a loss even in their main stronghold – Texas. For the first time in many years, the state lost the governor’s office, the lieutenant governor’s office, a Senate seat, and six seats in the House of Representatives.
The only exception was Florida, led by Governor Ron DeSantis, which held onto its seats, making him one of the leading contenders for future party leadership.
American voters – particularly the critically important electorate of 34 million independent voters – did not vote against specific members of Congress or senators, but directly against Trump himself. His policies, which combined isolationism, corruption scandals (in particular, the financial ties of his son-in-law Jared Kushner to Arab countries), and his cozying up to dictators, alienated the moderate electorate.
Even positive steps in domestic policy, such as the fight against drug trafficking or closing the borders to illegal immigrants, were overshadowed by foreign policy failures and the moral implications of his decisions.
Full interview with Boris Pinkus: watch the video
Bipartisan Coalition: How Congress Will Defend Ukraine
For Ukraine, the results of the U.S. election open a new window of opportunity. Until now, many Republicans had remained silent, fearing that criticizing the party leader on the eve of the election would alienate voters. Now that the gamble on loyalty to Trump has backfired, the Reagan-aligned wing of the Republican Party is ready for open cooperation with moderate Democrats.
A powerful bipartisan initiative is already taking shape in Congress. Republican Brian Fitzpatrick and Democrat Richard Blumenthal are pushing legislation that would severely restrict the possibility of any backroom deals with Russia. Specifically, this involves banning trade with Russia and blocking shipments of Russian diesel fuel. Legal warnings have already been sent to all companies involved in the transportation or processing of Russian petroleum products, forcing tankers to turn back while still en route to the U.S.
These steps effectively tie Trump’s hands in his attempts to act as a “mediator” between Kyiv and Moscow. Members of Congress are making it clear: any contacts with Putin’s inner circle for the purpose of economic deals will be blocked at the legislative level.
Trump’s Forced Transformation and the Personnel Crisis
Realizing the scale of the political disaster and the threat of numerous investigations, Donald Trump has already begun to change his rhetoric. In his first post-election interviews on Fox News, he unexpectedly abandoned his usual aggressive tone, congratulated the Democrats on their victory, and declared his willingness to cooperate with them on most issues, with the exception of Iran’s nuclear program.
This change in tone is a matter of necessity. Trump faces two years of fierce confrontation with Congress, where committees will be led by Democrats. This will inevitably lead to new hearings and investigations concerning his inner circle.
A mass exodus of staff from his team is already predicted. It is expected that key figures may voluntarily leave their posts in the near future to avoid reputational damage and impeachment proceedings.
To preserve what remains of his political legacy, Trump will be forced to adapt to the new bipartisan consensus. This means that in the near future, we can expect public statements in support of Ukraine and approval of the Ukrainian leadership’s actions, as it is critically important for the Republican Party to prove that it is not a “one-man party” but remains an institution committed to democratic values.
A Signal to the Kremlin: Why a Freeze on the War Is Impossible
The shift in the political landscape in Washington has caused serious concern in Moscow, Beijing, and Tehran. Emergency consultations among representatives of these countries indicate that the axis of dictatorships did not expect such a rapid decline in the influence of isolationists in the U.S.
The Kremlin’s calculation that the paralysis of the U.S. government would allow it to impose peace on Ukraine on terms of surrender has collapsed. Any negotiations aimed at surrendering Ukrainian territories are doomed to failure. Kyiv’s position remains unchanged: no territorial concessions, security guarantees, and the provision of weapons for self-defense.
The new Congress will push the administration to increase pressure on Russia. The only effective mechanism for stopping Putin’s regime remains a show of force: tightening sanctions, continuing strikes against Russian oil refining infrastructure, and ensuring an uninterrupted supply of weapons to Ukraine.
At the same time, Washington will have to reassess its strategy toward China – which remains the primary economic backer of Russia’s military machine – and Iran, whose military capabilities pose a direct threat to global security.
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