Americans saying no to war: Iran leads reactions to Trump midterms disaster, speaker says

Iran’s response to the results

Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, speaker of Iran’s parliament, described the Republican defeat in Tuesday’s midterms as evidence that Americans opposed war. He suggested voters had punished the Trump administration over the Middle East conflict and its economic effects.

In a post on X, Ghalibaf said, “Conscience or the cost of living, Americans said NO TO WAR,” and added that Iran endorsed the message. He also warned that the US government would face consequences if it ignored public opinion. Ghalibaf rejected personal responsibility for the Republican loss, saying the party would have won “by a landslide” if his name had appeared on the ballot.

Coverage frames a rebuke

International reporting largely presented the election as a message to Trump. Le Monde called the result a “stunning rebuke for Trump” and a “major blow” to a president who had spent nearly every day of the previous month holding rallies to energise supporters.

Markets weigh policy risks

Global markets fell slightly after Democrats performed strongly. Investors were concerned that tighter regulation and local restrictions could slow the US AI infrastructure boom. The Financial Times said investors were especially concerned about Democratic victories in Texas and Ohio, both major data-centre hubs. The states’ governors have authority over construction permits and zoning, as well as potential building moratoriums.