Washington – As the November midterm elections approach, President Donald Trump’s foreign‑policy agenda appears stalled, a development that could affect the Republican Party’s hold on Congress. The ongoing stalemate with Iran, unresolved crises in Ukraine and Gaza, and rising domestic costs are weighing heavily on the president’s standing.
Iran stalemate and economic pressure
After weeks of attempting a diplomatic solution, Trump announced the end of talks with Tehran and launched a new “economic warfare” campaign against the Islamic Republic. The move follows months of military strikes that have not produced the concessions Washington seeks. A senior administration official said sanctions and a naval blockade have left Iran’s economy “completely broke,” and that additional levers remain available in the weeks ahead.
Inflation continues to rise, and gasoline prices have climbed as the Iran conflict drags on. In the latest Reuters/Ipsos poll, Trump’s approval rating fell to 33 percent, the lowest point of his second term.
Gaza peace effort stalls
Efforts to broker a Gaza ceasefire have also stalled. Jared Kushner, the president’s son‑in‑law and chief negotiator, returned from talks without a breakthrough on a peace deal. Meanwhile, Israeli and Hamas leaders remain at odds over the conditions needed to advance the peace framework Trump introduced in October of last year.
U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff and Kushner have yet to travel to Kyiv for a planned visit aimed at reviving negotiations to end Russia’s war in Ukraine. The longest conflict in Europe since World War II continues, with recent Russian airstrikes killing 16 people in Kyiv.
Mixed results from an unorthodox approach
Some analysts credit Trump for challenging the traditional diplomatic consensus in Washington. Nick Snyder of the Hudson Institute noted the president’s willingness to confront disputes that other leaders have avoided, citing efforts to mediate conflicts between Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo and between Thailand and Cambodia.
However, critics argue that the president’s heavy reliance on coercive pressure has produced mixed outcomes. Stephen Wertheim of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace said Trump is “obsessed with applying coercion” and often fails to consider the strategic goals and domestic politics of adversaries, leading to repeated setbacks.
Political implications
With Labor Day marking the start of intensified campaign activity, Republicans worry that unresolved foreign conflicts and their economic fallout could cost the party control of one or both chambers of Congress. Analysts warn that adversaries such as Russia, China and Iran may view the president’s shortened political clock as an opportunity to wait out U.S. pressure.
As the election approaches, the administration’s ability to translate foreign‑policy disruption into concrete deliverables for Americans remains a central question for voters and lawmakers alike.
Original reporting: Appleton, WI News Feed (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
