# Garton Ash: Trump remains a threat despite midterm losses

> The historian warns that Democratic victories in the midterms offer little comfort to Europe while Trump controls foreign policy for two more years.
- Title: Garton Ash: Trump remains a threat despite midterm losses
- Summary: The historian warns that Democratic victories in the midterms offer little comfort to Europe while Trump controls foreign policy for two more years.
- Keywords: timothy garton ash, trump, midterm elections, foreign policy, europe, democratic party, The New Yorker
- Source: The New Yorker — https://newyorker.com/podcast/the-new-yorker-radio-hour/the-historian-timothy-garton-ash-on-the-world-after-trump
- Author: David Remnick
- Published: 2026-11-13T19:00:00+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: timothy garton ash, trump, midterm elections, foreign policy, europe, democratic party, politics, news
## Democrats celebrate, Europe stays cautious
Democrats are celebrating historic midterm victories, but Timothy Garton Ash, a British historian at Oxford, warns that the results offer little comfort to Europe.

> in Europe we have to keep our heads on, because actually it doesn't make such a big difference for us
## Trump controls foreign policy for two more years
For the next two years, Trump remains in charge of foreign policy. Garton Ash describes him as the largest and angriest lame duck in the history of the world.

> He's going to be the largest and angriest lame duck in the history of the world.
## Future Democrats face challenges in illiberal world
Garton Ash, who covered the fall of Communist autocracies in Eastern Europe, discusses the challenges a possible Democratic successor will face as illiberal regimes grow ascendant globally.
## Key takeaway

Historian Timothy Garton Ash says Trump's control of foreign policy for two more years poses ongoing risks to Europe, despite Democratic midterm gains.