European leaders went to bed on the eve of the US midterms worried. Anyone talking to their ambassadors or to Washington Democrats themselves found themselves picking up real unease, even notes of fear — that the results might mark a sharp turn back towards Donald Trump. Instead they woke up relieved. Not only was there no “red wave” but the wins and losses themselves were a personal defeat for him.
Campaigning across the country, Trump spent millions and endorsed more than 300 candidates only to see some of his most high-profile bets for the Senate flop. In Pennsylvania, the Democrats beat Dr Mehmet Oz — a fellow quixotic former TV star — in a state that was the Republicans’ to lose. In Arizona, the far-Right’s Blake Masters — who once said he opposed American involvement in World War Two — was slammed. Meanwhile, the Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, who has emerged as Trump’s clear rival for the nomination, stormed to victory.
