Global trust in America erodes after US midterm rout
The gist
Democrats flipped both chambers of Congress in the US midterms, with at least 228 House seats won.
Allies say one election doesn't restore trust shaken by Trump's foreign policy.
How it unfolded
- Feb 28, 2026Fighting with Iran began; US regular gasoline had averaged below $3 a gallon beforehand.
- Jun 23, 2026Pew Research Center polling reported the US losing standing abroad, with allies viewing Washington as unreliable.
- Jun 25, 2026A Pew poll found 76 percent of adults questioned had no confidence in Trump's leadership on the world stage, with just 23 percent having confidence.
Key terms
- midterms
- US general elections held near the midpoint of a president's four-year term, when all House seats and about a third of Senate seats are contested.
- House seats
- The lower chamber of the bicameral United States Congress, which shares federal legislative power with the Senate.
- Senate seats
- The upper chamber of the bicameral United States Congress, which shares federal legislative power with the House.
Source: Wikipedia