The Democratic Party's victory in the US midterm elections is set to turn the second half of President Donald Trump's term into a battleground of political confrontations and large-scale investigations.
Having secured control of both the Senate and the House of Representatives, party members intend to use Congress's oversight powers to launch a series of probes targeting the Trump administration, his family members, Republican donors and business firms close to the administration.
The first messages arrived quickly. Congressman Robert Garcia, expected to chair the House Oversight Committee, posted a brief, sharp message on X: "Hire lawyers." Shortly afterward, Senator Ron Wyden, slated to head the Senate Finance Committee, wrote: "Subpoenas." Congresswoman Delia Ramirez added her own message to administration officials: "Clear your calendars."
By Wednesday, Democratic committee leaders had begun detailing their plans. Among other things, Wyden announced his intention to examine agreements the Trump administration reached with pharmaceutical companies regarding drug pricing.
According to conversations Reuters held with about a dozen lawyers, members of Congress, political consultants and parliamentary aides, the investigations may also expand to billionaire Elon Musk, the president's sons Donald Trump Jr. and Eric, as well as Republican donors and contractors working with the administration.
The White House is already attempting to fend off the move. Spokeswoman Lauren Bice claimed such investigations would be "show attacks" and that choosing a path of investigations and far-left policy would be an action against the interest of the American public. Another senior administration official warned that Democrats should remember that control of the federal government and its powers still rests with the Republicans.
But the confrontation is not limited to an attempt to harm Trump personally. Democrats are interested in tying corruption allegations not only to the president but to the entire administration and the Republican Party. At the same time, they may return to the Jeffrey Epstein affair and how Republicans handled information related to the case.
However, the Democratic strategy also carries risk. A Republican consultant named Ron Bonjean warned that voters are far more concerned about the cost of living than political revenge battles. According to him, if investigations dominate the agenda and come at the expense of economic legislation, the Democratic majority may prove short-lived.
The data reinforces the warning: in a Reuters-Ipsos poll conducted ahead of the elections, 48% of registered voters cited the cost of living as the central issue that influenced their vote. On the other hand, in another poll from August, 69% of Americans said they believe Trump's private business interests affect his decisions as president. This includes real estate deals and ventures in the digital currency field involving his family.
Democrats will also have to contend with legal resistance from the White House. Lawyers estimate the administration will attempt to delay or block some of the investigations through legal proceedings and claims of presidential immunity. In contrast, private companies summoned to provide information will find it harder to rely on similar defenses.
Control of both houses of Congress gives Democrats wide room to maneuver, but also increases the need to carefully choose investigation targets.
