Democrats won Congress. But can they deliver on their promises?

Democrats’ narrow midterm election wins have handed them limited leverage to counter President Trump’s policies on Iran, trade tariffs, and other key issues, leaving their ability to push back on his agenda significantly constrained. With divided government now the reality, lawmakers will struggle to advance legislative solutions, forcing them to rely on narrower strategies to challenge executive actions. The political landscape suggests a prolonged standoff over foreign policy and economic measures, where partisan gridlock could dominate the next phase of governance. Whether Democrats can even slow Trump’s approach—or must settle for defensive tactics—remains an open question as the new Congress takes shape.

Despite their midterm election victories, Democrats face major obstacles to reining in Trump on Iran, tariffs and more.