In brief
After Republican defeats in the 2026 mid‑term elections, former U.S. ambassador Charles Freeman told TASS that President Trump has become a "lame‑duck," potentially allowing him to normalize relations with Russia. Freeman cautions that this status could lead to rash moves against Iran and Cuba, yet he also sees a chance to end the West’s proxy war in Ukraine. The midterms result gave Republicans control of the Senate and House, but Democrats will hold majorities in the next Congress.
WASHINGTON — Former U.S. ambassador Charles Freeman told TASS that President Donald Trump’s loss in the 2026 mid‑term elections has turned him into a “lame‑duck,” free to pursue closer ties with Russia without fearing domestic backlash.
The midterm vote, held on Tuesday, elected one‑third of the Senate, the entire House of Representatives, and governors in 36 states and territories. Both chambers remain Republican‑controlled, but Democrats will hold the majority in the next Congress, beginning January 3, 2027.
Expert View
Emphasizing the new political freedom, Freeman said,
"Trump is now a 'lame duck.' He has been humiliated. There is a danger that he will do something irrational and destructive to reassert dominance. The obvious initial victims if he lashes out would be Iran and Cuba."
He added that Trump’s “lame‑duck” status could also allow him to end the West’s proxy war in Ukraine and pursue a rapprochement with Russia, even if it faces backlash from Democrats and his own party.
"But there may be a bright side to the fact that he is now free to act without regard for the electoral consequences of his actions. He has wanted to end the [West’s] proxy war in Ukraine and pursue a rapprochement with Russia. He will face enormous backlash from Democrats as well as members of his own party who have beatified [Vladimir] Zelensky and embraced Ukraine as a heroic underdog in its confrontation with Russia, but that will not necessarily deter him," Freeman said.
Freeman, who served as U.S. Assistant Secretary of Defense and has headed a Washington‑based consulting firm, has often contributed foreign‑policy commentary to the English‑language press.
His assessment remains an opinion; the future of Trump’s foreign policy actions is not confirmed, but his remarks point to both potential risks and opportunities following the midterm outcome.
