Did Trump Bear the Political Cost of the Economic Crisis in the U.S.?

The midterm elections held on November 3 in the United States are being regarded as a significant political turning point for the remaining two years of President Donald Trump's second term. Following the elections in which Democrats gained power in Congress, the way the American people's economic hardships reflected in the ballot has become the focus of the agenda.

Lawyer Ahmet Yavuz Uşaklıoğlu, who practices in the bar associations of California, New York and Istanbul, examined the election results in his article titled “The Economy’s Reflection on the Ballot in America: A Wave of Change Against Trump,” published in Independent Türkçe, through the lenses of economic conditions, foreign policy, and shifting power balances in American politics.

The Rising Cost of Living Influenced Voter Preference

According to Uşaklıoğlu, to understand the election results, one must first look at the economic problems faced by the American public in everyday life.

Uşaklıoğlu, who noted that many economic issues—from grocery shopping to gasoline prices, rising bills to financial hardship—affect voter behavior, pointed out that when citizens could not find a match between the proclaimed economic success narratives and their own living conditions, they reassessed their political choices.

The lawyer Uşaklıoğlu stated that rising living costs, in particular, amplified dissatisfaction with the Trump administration and strengthened the desire for change across various social groups.

Customs Duties and the Economic Impact of Wars

The article also scrutinizes Trump administration trade policies.

Uşaklıoğlu stressed that import tariffs applied to imported products affect not only foreign producers but also American businesses and consumers.

Rising costs of imported parts, higher production expenses, and businesses passing these costs to consumers illustrate the daily-life consequences of trade policies.

Uşaklıoğlu also addressed the impact of international conflicts on energy prices, warning that wars are not merely a foreign policy issue but produce economic consequences from gas prices to market shelves.

Gaza Policy Also Influences Voter Opinion

Uşaklıoğlu argued that, in addition to economic issues, the foreign‑policy choices of the Trump administration also played an important role in voters' assessments.

He said that the policies pursued in the face of the destruction in Gaza and the humanitarian crisis experienced by civilians sparked reactions among Muslim voters and communities sensitive to human rights.

According to Uşaklıoğlu, the simultaneous rise of economic dissatisfaction and moral objections to foreign policy helped the anti‑Trump political movement reach a broader segment of the electorate.

Results in Texas Seen as a Symbol of Political Change

Evaluating the political scene in Texas as one of the election’s striking developments, Uşaklıoğlu described Democrat James Talarico’s victory in the Senate race as a significant breakthrough in a state traditionally dominated by Republicans.

Uşaklıoğlu said that this shift could be likened to a major electoral triumph for a communist candidate in Konya or a Welfare Party‑aligned candidate in Izmir in terms of Turkey’s political balances.

He argued that this example showed that when economic and political dissatisfaction grew, voters could change their traditional party loyalties.

The Influence of Muslim Voters in Politics is Growing

Evaluating the Senate race in Michigan, Uşaklıoğlu noted that Abdul El‑Sayed’s candidacy is significant for the representation of Muslims in American politics.

Reminding that the race had not yet been decided at the time the article was written, Uşaklıoğlu said that if El‑Sayed were elected, he would become the first Muslim senator in U.S. history.

Uşaklıoğlu viewed the strengthening of political organization among Muslims and immigrant-origin communities as an important development for expanding representation in American democracy.

Wealth Tax Debate in California

The article also covered the wealth tax debates in California.

Uşaklıoğlu, who noted that the Prop 40 proposal—envisioning a one‑time 5% wealth tax on certain billionaires—lagged in early results, pointed out that the support given to Democrats does not equate to equal backing for every economic policy proposal.

Evaluating both the wealth‑tax approach endorsed by Bernie Sanders and the economic policies of New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, Uşaklıoğlu said that housing, health, transportation, and cost‑of‑living concerns are becoming increasingly important, especially for young voters.

Two More Tough Years Could Lie Ahead of Trump.

In Uşaklıoğlu's assessment, the elections' impact on Washington's power balances also held significant weight.

Reminding that Republicans controlled both the White House and both chambers of Congress during the first two years of Trump's second term, Uşaklıoğlu argued that Democrats securing a majority in Congress would strengthen oversight of the administration.

Uşaklıoğlu, noting that Congress’s budget, legislative, and investigative powers allow the White House’s decisions to be scrutinized more comprehensively, also emphasized that this does not mean all of the Trump administration’s policies could be blocked.

He pointed out that the President’s veto power and the principle of separation of powers in the U.S. Constitution could make the political struggle between Congress and the White House a more complex process.

A New Responsibility Begins for Democrats

Uşaklıoğlu, stating that election results should not be viewed merely as a reaction to the Trump administration, said that Democrats also have to respond to voters’ expectations.

He highlighted the importance of delivering concrete improvements in housing costs, health expenditures, working conditions, and everyday living expenses.

According to Uşaklıoğlu, the permanence of the political support Democrats have gained will depend on translating election success into economic outcomes that citizens can feel in their daily lives.

"The American Public Asked for Accountability of the Power They Gave"

At the end of his piece, lawyer Ahmet Yavuz Uşaklıoğlu, who interpreted the election results as a strong warning to the Trump administration, claimed that he had exposed the American public's dissatisfaction with economic hardships and foreign‑policy preferences at the polls.

According to Uşaklıoğlu, the last two years ahead of Trump will be shaped not only by the political struggle in Congress but also by the responses he will give to economic problems and demands rising from different sectors of society.

Uşaklıoğlu, who said that the election results could mark the beginning of a new era of oversight and accountability in American politics, added that whether the demand for change will produce lasting results would become clear in the steps taken in the coming period.