Democrats have won control of both chambers of the US Congress in the November 3 midterm elections, dealing a major blow to President Donald Trump and the Republican Party.

With at least 54 seats in the Senate secured and a commanding lead in the House of Representatives, Democrats had regained control of Congress. The loss of both chambers will significantly constrain Trump's domestic agenda over the next two years. Democrats will be able to block legislation and presidential nominees, intensify congressional oversight of the administration and launch investigations into its policies and conduct.

Analysts say the electoral setback could also prompt Trump to devote more attention to foreign policy, trade and national security, areas where the president generally has greater executive authority. His administration could pursue a more assertive approach to the conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East, as well as global trade disputes, potentially adding to uncertainty in international affairs.

Against this backdrop, reactions to the election have come from across the US political spectrum and the international community.

Reactions in the US

The scale of the Democratic victory has surprised many in Washington. Analysts have pointed to several factors behind the Republican defeat, including the war with Iran, persistent inflation, rising living costs and the Republican strategy of closely tying the party's political fortunes to Trump's personal leadership.

Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer described the outcome as a rejection of the current administration's policies, telling voters that "relief is on the way." He pledged to make lowering the cost of living the party's top priority while using its new congressional majority to hold the administration accountable.

House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries, who is expected to become the next House speaker, pledged that Democrats would work to make life more affordable for Americans. He also promised vigorous congressional oversight of what he called unprecedented corruption in the Trump administration, accusing some officials of putting personal interests ahead of the public good.

Democratic lawmakers are expected to launch investigations into senior administration officials and potential conflicts of interest involving Trump's family businesses. While some Democrats have raised the possibility of impeachment proceedings against Trump or members of his Cabinet, Jeffries has said that impeachment is not currently a priority for his caucus.

The election defeat has also prompted a debate within the Republican administration over the war with Iran.

US Vice President JD Vance said on Wednesday that the conflict was the reason Republicans lost the midterm elections. 

His remarks came hours after Trump told The Wall Street Journal that the war had partly contributed to Republican losses. Trump acknowledged that Iran was a factor but said rising oil prices, rather than the conflict itself, had become the biggest political liability.

European reactions

European leaders have responded cautiously to the Democrats' sweeping victory, welcoming the results while warning that they are unlikely to ease transatlantic tensions.

Analysts caution that a weakened Trump could become even more unpredictable and assertive on trade, foreign policy and security, where the president enjoys greater room for manoeuvre. Europe therefore faces continued uncertainty over US tariffs, NATO commitments and Washington's support for Ukraine.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said American voters had rejected "hatred," "sexism," "climate denial" and "the privileges of the elites." French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot described the result as good news for American democracy, while stressing that it did not change the "urgent and vital necessity" of building a stronger, more prosperous and more democratic Europe.

Germany struck a more pragmatic tone. Metin Hakverdi, Chancellor Friedrich Merz's coordinator for transatlantic cooperation, told German news agency DPA that "America has chosen change," but cautioned that Trump would continue to play a decisive role in foreign policy. Germany, he added, "must not restrict our contacts to individual political camps."

"For Europe, the most difficult two years of his second term may only be beginning now," wrote Josef Braml, European director of the Trilateral Commission, in an Euronews commentary.

US Ambassador to NATO Matthew Whitaker said on Wednesday that he did not expect US foreign policy to change following the midterm elections. 

"The foreign policy of the United States has not changed, and I don't expect it to change with the midterm election," Whitaker told the panel at the Berlin Security Conference in Berlin.

Iran

Iranian officials have expressed welcome to the Republican defeat, portraying it as a rejection by American voters of Trump's war against Iran and the economic costs associated with the conflict. At the same time, Tehran has warned that the change in congressional control will not necessarily bring a shift in Washington's policy toward Iran.

Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, who is also the country's chief negotiator with Washington, wrote on X:"Conscience or the cost of living, Americans said NO TO WAR, and we endorse this message."

He warned that Washington would face serious consequences if it ignored public opinion and continued its military campaign against Iran.

Iranian Judiciary Chief Gholam-Hossein Mohseni-Ejei also declared on social media: "Trump was defeated both in war and in politics."

However, Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei struck a more cautious tone in a written statement issued on Wednesday, warning against expecting a fundamental change in US policy following the electoral shift.

"If there are still those who entertain the slightest hope that the hegemonic system may change its behavior or shifts in its political parties may bring about change, or that by making concessions to the US, they can persuade it to abandon its hostility, they're gravely mistaken," Khamenei said.

He also stressed that Iran must continue to strengthen its capabilities and establish genuine deterrence, signaling that Tehran does not expect a change in the US political landscape to alter its strategic calculations.

Russia

Russia has responded cautiously to the Democrats' victory, expressing hope that the shift in congressional power will not disrupt Washington's diplomatic efforts to end the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said on Wednesday that Moscow hoped Trump would continue his efforts to broker peace in Ukraine despite the Republican Party's defeat.

"President Trump will continue his term, and we sincerely count on him continuing his peacemaking efforts," Peskov said.

Asked whether a Democratic-controlled Congress could hinder US-led diplomatic efforts, Peskov described the election as an internal matter for the United States.

Meanwhile, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov said Moscow's foreign policy would not be affected by political changes in other countries. He noted that Democratic leaders maintained a "sharply negative" approach to relations with Russia, adding that Moscow's position on Ukraine would remain unchanged.

Ukraine

Ukraine has welcomed the Democrats' sweeping victory in the US midterm elections, expressing hope that their control of Congress will translate into stronger military and financial support for Kyiv.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in an interview with Germany's ZDF television on Wednesday that he hoped the Democrats' gains would bring more assistance to Ukraine in its ongoing conflict with Russia.

"I am also grateful to the Republicans, but the Democrats speak very clearly about supporting Ukraine and providing assistance to Ukraine," Zelenskyy said.

He also welcomed the Democrats' commitment to closer US-European ties, saying there was hope that a new balance of power in Washington would bring greater support for Kyiv.

Ukraine's Charge d'Affaires in the United States, Denys Sienik, meanwhile, said Kyiv hoped to maintain strong bipartisan support in both chambers of Congress.

He said Ukraine would continue working closely with the Trump administration while urging lawmakers from both parties to maintain support for Kyiv and increase pressure on Moscow.

China

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said at a regular press briefing on Wednesday that the elections were an internal affair of the United States.

"China is willing to continue working with the US to uphold and implement the important consensus reached by the two heads of state, strengthen communication, properly manage differences, expand cooperation, and build a constructive, strategically stable China-US relationship based on the principles of respect, fairness and reciprocity," she said.

(With input from agencies)