# Trump's defeat limits him at home, but not abroad

> After losing the midterms, Donald Trump retains broad powers as commander-in-chief to act militarily overseas, where he may seek to restore his image.
- Title: Trump's defeat limits him at home, but not abroad · BBC News
- Summary: After losing the midterms, Donald Trump retains broad powers as commander-in-chief to act militarily overseas, where he may seek to restore his image.
- Keywords: donald trump, midterm elections, iran, ukraine, russia, israel, benjamin netanyahu, military action, us foreign policy, BBC News
- Source: BBC News — https://bbc.co.uk/news/articles/crkg7wj8g201o
- Read time: 2 min
- Topics: donald trump, midterm elections, iran, ukraine, russia, israel, benjamin netanyahu, military action, us foreign policy, news, world
## Trump loses big but stays powerful
Donald Trump suffered a major electoral defeat in the midterms, losing both houses of Congress. This limits his ability to dictate and disrupt at home, but abroad his powers remain broad.
## Trump may act abroad to restore image
As president and commander-in-chief, Trump retains broad powers to use America's military might. He may take foreign actions to show himself as a decisive, victorious strong president undiminished by electoral loss.
## US bombs Iranian island before election
In the weeks before the midterms, the US deployed forces and Trump made belligerent statements about war with Iran.
## Senator warns Iran war plans are insane
US Senator Chris Murphy, a Democrat, attended a classified briefing on military options for renewed war with Iran. He condemned the plans as insane, warning they would trigger a devastating escalation.

> insane
## Iran's parliament warns of nightmare response
Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, speaker of Iran's parliament, posted a warning on social media. He said if the US government betrays public will, it will learn that Iran's no comes with a nightmare.

> If the US govt betrays their public will to serve international paymasters and blackmailers, it will learn our NO comes with a Nightmare.
## Netanyahu pushes Trump toward Iran war
Benjamin Netanyahu, now acting prime minister of Israel after its election last week, has repeated that he wants to bring down the Islamic regime in Tehran.
## Trump may pressure Ukraine on territorial deals
The conflict between Ukraine and Russia has lasted longer than the First World War.Trump has consistently tried to force President Volodymyr Zelensky into making territorial concessions to Russia that would amount to capitulation for Kyiv.
## Trump unlikely to sit idle in office
Predictions of Trump's next moves risk being wrong, but it is certain he will not wait out his time in the White House.
## Key takeaway

Trump's midterm defeat limits his domestic power but leaves him with broad military authority abroad, where he may act to restore his image as a strong president.