Partisan war awaits Trump after poll blow
DEMOCRATS RETAKE HOUSE, SETTING UP DIVIDED GOVERNMENT ENDING 8-YEAR GOP MONOPOLY
US President Donald Trump woke up yesterday morning to a radically new political environment as he confronts the prospect of a two-year partisan war with a Democratic-run House armed with subpoena power and empowered to block his legislative agenda.
Trump and his fellow Republicans expanded their control of the Senate in midterm elections, following a divisive campaign marked by fierce clashes over race and immigration. But they lost their majority in the House.
The Democrats took back the House with a surge of fresh new candidates and an outpouring of voter enthusiasm, breaking the GOP’s eightyear monopoly on power in Washington. The split power in Congress combined with Trump’s expansive view of executive power could herald even deeper political polarisation and legislative gridlock in Washington.
Trump warned of a “warlike posture” if Democrats use their newly won control of the House to launch investigations into his administration.
Sessions resigns
Addressing a news conference at the White House last night, Trump said he wouldn’t cooperate with Democrats on policy matters if they torment him with inquiries. “They can play that game, but we can play it better,” he said.
Later last night, Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced his resignation. Chief of Staff Matt Whitaker has been named the new acting attorney general.