As Trump approaches the 2026 midterm elections, Democrats signal they see a widening path to retaking control of Congress—a development that could substantially constrain the administration’s agenda and expose it to investigations and impeachment threats from a Democratic-controlled House.
President Donald Trump has spent his first year of a second term implementing a wide-ranging policy agenda spanning government restructuring, immigration enforcement, and military interventions abroad, according to an assessment by Associated Press White House and Washington correspondents. The administration has achieved significant policy implementation of campaign priorities, though public approval remains mixed across most major policy areas.
White House reporter Darlene Superville characterized Trump’s second term as one marked by “determination”—a significant shift from his first presidency, when he arrived as a political outsider unfamiliar with Washington’s landscape. Superville said Trump has now surrounded himself with people he knows and trusts, enabling more effective implementation of his agenda.
Government Restructuring and White House Renovations
The administration introduced the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) early in Trump’s term, enlisting Tesla and SpaceX owner Elon Musk to lead efficiency efforts. Musk assembled a team of young workers who reviewed federal departments and agencies to identify cost-cutting opportunities.
Musk remained in the administration for several months before departing. The efficiency effort resulted in thousands of federal workers losing jobs and some spending cuts, though the administration did not achieve the $2 billion in reductions that Musk had claimed was possible, according to AP reporting.
Trump has undertaken extensive renovations of the White House at an unusual level of personal involvement. His projects have included demolishing the East Wing to add a large ballroom; redecorating the Oval Office with gold touches, portraits of every president, and a copy of the Declaration of Independence; paving over the Rose Garden and converting it to a patio; redoing a bathroom in the Lincoln bedroom with marble; and installing two massive flagpoles on the north and south lawns.
Immigration Enforcement and Domestic Deployments
The Trump administration pursued the largest mass deportation effort in U.S. history, deploying Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers to major American cities as part of what Trump campaigned on and what voters appeared to endorse by electing him. But the enforcement effort has been contentious. An ICE officer shot and killed Renee Good, an American citizen, during an operation in Minnesota, sparking controversy about the tactics being employed in the campaign.
Washington correspondent Sagar Meghani reported that the focus of ICE enforcement has centered on Minnesota, where Trump has made longstanding complaints about the Somali community and made derogatory statements about the group, calling them “trash” and saying they should return to their own country. Trump has also made claims about the community misusing state childcare programs—allegations the Justice Department is investigating.
An AP-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research poll found that just 38 percent of adults approve of the president’s leadership on immigration. Among Republicans specifically, approval has declined by approximately 12 percentage points over the past year.
The administration deployed the National Guard to several U.S. cities—Washington, Chicago, Portland, and New Orleans—citing crime concerns. Trump has claimed that Washington is now completely safe with no murders for months, but AP reporting indicates those claims do not match the factual record. Uniformed National Guard members remain visible in Washington streets and train stations months after deployment began.
Foreign Policy Challenges
Trump claimed during his campaign that he could resolve Russia’s war in Ukraine within 24 hours of taking office. More than a year later, the conflict remains unresolved. AP correspondents report Trump has said he thought it would be the easiest of his foreign policy challenges, yet he has been unable to broker a deal.
In the Middle East, Trump promoted a peace plan involving Israel and Gaza. While the administration received praise for developing the proposal, the plan has not been fully adopted by the parties involved, becoming a source of disappointment for the president.
The Trump administration has taken aggressive action in Venezuela, conducting military strikes against suspected drug-running vessels and mounting a raid into Caracas. Trump has indicated he wants the United States to play a significant role in controlling Venezuelan oil sales. Some Republican lawmakers have objected, saying that military action against a foreign leader requires Congressional involvement.
Trump has also expressed strong interest in the United States acquiring Greenland, citing national security concerns. Both Greenland and Denmark have rejected this possibility, though discussions between the U.S. and Denmark continue without resolution.
Economic Approval and the Midterm Elections
While Trump has claimed record-breaking economic growth and low unemployment, AP reporting indicates these claims lack full support in actual data.
An AP-NORC poll found that 37 percent of adults approve of how the president is handling the economy. This approval rating has remained consistently low throughout the past year, despite being a historical strength for Trump.
The president has repeatedly pressured Federal Reserve Chairman Jay Powell to lower interest rates, criticizing Powell almost daily and questioning his stewardship. Trump has also criticized the Federal Reserve’s building renovations and used them as another tool to pressure Powell, though interest rate decisions are made by a committee of the Federal Reserve, not by Powell alone. Powell’s term ends in May 2026.
The 2026 midterm elections loom as a potential turning point in Trump’s presidency. Political history suggests that the party that wins the White House loses in the midterms. Trump has acknowledged this pattern but said it would be unfair.
Democrats would need to flip four Senate seats to regain control of the chamber. Democratic leader Chuck Schumer told the AP that the path toward actually achieving that is “much wider” than it has been. If Democrats take one or both chambers of Congress, the political dynamics of Trump’s second term would shift substantially.
Trump is acutely aware of the stakes. He has told the House GOP conference that if Democrats prevail in November, they will launch investigations into his administration, call cabinet members to testify, and likely move to impeach him. To retain control, he has employed an unorthodox strategy of encouraging Republican-controlled states to redraw their congressional districts early, a process normally conducted every ten years. States including Texas, Missouri, and North Carolina have agreed to redraw their districts in ways that could favor Republicans in the midterm elections.