Midterm polls show polarized US

No real loss for Trump

Mei Xinyu

The midterm elections do not suggest Trump suffered a loss. The Democrats may have won majority in the House, but they cannot prevent Trump from advancing his policies, because despite not receiving the unanimous support of both houses even when the Republicans enjoyed majority in the Congress, he managed to implement his disruptive policies.

Most probably, Trump will now appoint new judges to the Supreme Court to consolidate the conservatives' hold over the judiciary, which will have a long-term impact on the US. Thus it can be said that Trump enjoys more influence now as more Republicans are expected to support him.

What's alarming is that the Democrats won the House by promoting identity politics and emphasizing the candidates' gender, sexual orientation, race and religion, rather than talent and capability. This could further divide the US society.

Despite the current boom in the US economy, an economic depression seems to be looming and could become reality as early as 2019 or 2020. And a split Congress would worsen the situation, as the Democrats-led House may be more hostile toward China on issues such as trade.

Mei Xinyu, a researcher at the International Trade and Economic Cooperation Institute of the Ministry of Commerce