‘Seismic shift’: World reacts to US midterm election results

What the report says

Democrats won major gains in the US midterm elections, taking control of both chambers of Congress, according to Al Jazeera’s report published on November 4, 2026. The outcome was framed as a sharp setback for President Donald Trump and his Republican Party, with the results quickly drawing reactions from governments and political figures around the world. The article said foreign leaders are assessing whether the change in Congress could influence US policy on issues such as Iran, the Russia-Ukraine war and trade.

Iranian officials were among the most outspoken respondents. Parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, who also serves as Tehran’s chief negotiator in talks with Washington, said the vote showed Americans rejected war. Iran’s supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, argued that changes in party control would not alter what he described as US hostility toward Iran. In Israel, opposition voices said the result could further isolate Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and complicate his standing with Washington.

Leaders in Europe and Asia stressed continuity in relations with the United States. Officials from the United Kingdom, France, Greece, Japan and China said they expected existing partnerships to remain stable, though some suggested the Democratic win could affect future cooperation on Ukraine, the global economy and broader diplomacy. Russia also urged caution, saying it would wait for the final political picture while hoping the result would not affect Trump’s diplomatic efforts.

The reactions underscored how closely the world is watching Washington after the election shift, especially as Trump remains central to US foreign policy even with Democrats now controlling Congress.