Donald Trump and US midterms: How bad was his night?

He whitethorn person departed the White House but the fig of Donald Trump inactive looms ample implicit US politics. With different statesmanlike tally successful the pipeline, however did the midterm results impact him?

Standing earlier a assemblage of adoring supporters successful Ohio earlier this week, erstwhile President Donald Trump made a committedness - a "big announcement" connected 15 November, precisely a week aft a predicted "red wave" of Republican victories successful the midterm elections, which galore observers saw arsenic a litmus trial of his power implicit the party.

The wave, however, turned retired to beryllium much of a wavelet.

Mr Trump's announcement - a much-hinted-at 2024 statesmanlike tally - volition travel aft an predetermination successful which galore of his endorsed candidates underperformed, throwing into question the continued viability of the "Make America Great Again" marque of US conservatism.

Perhaps much concerning for the erstwhile president was the resounding occurrence of Florida politician - and imaginable 2024 rival - Ron DeSantis, who celebrated a "win for the ages" successful his re-election bid arsenic his tensions with Mr Trump spilled retired into the open.

Let's instrumentality a look astatine however the midterms person gone truthful acold for Mr Trump, and what they mightiness mean for his governmental future.

While Republican candidates crossed the state met unexpectedly choky races, Mr DeSantis, 44, swept to a astir 20-point landslide triumph implicit Democratic challenger Charlie Crist, including a wide bulk among Latino voters. Four years ago, by comparison, helium won by little than fractional a percent point.

The triumph volition further substance speculation of a imaginable statesmanlike tally successful 2024. At his triumph enactment successful Tampa connected Tuesday night, his supporters chanted "two much years!" - starkly highlighting the entreaty of a antheral immoderate journalists and Republican observers person dubbed "Trump with substance" oregon "Trump 2.0".

Among those who present spot Mr DeSantis arsenic a stronger White House contender than Mr Trump was Mike Cernovich, a right-wing commentator who was erstwhile described by Politico arsenic an "indefatigable Trump cheerleader".

"Trump has zero changeable astatine 2024 successful general. After tonight, this isn't up for debate," Mr Cernovich tweeted connected Tuesday night. "DeSantis successful 2024 oregon judge full defeat".

The imaginable of facing Mr DeSantis successful 2 years isn't mislaid connected Mr Trump, who warned that helium "could wounded himself precise badly" and that helium would uncover "things astir him that won't beryllium precise flattering".

Patrick Ruffini, a Republican pollster and strategist, described Mr Trump arsenic a "wounded animal" to the BBC, erstwhile compared to Mr DeSantis' precise bully predetermination night.

Ahead of the midterms, Mr Trump endorsed dozens of candidates for Congress, arsenic good arsenic others moving successful gubernatorial and authorities legislature races.

While the election's last results are inactive unclear - and whitethorn beryllium for immoderate clip - it is progressively wide that Mr Trump's results were, astatine best, mixed.

Of the high-profile Senate candidates helium endorsed, for example, lone 1 - Ohio Republican JD Vance - won a wide victory, edging retired Democratic Representative Tim Ryan. Other Trump endorsed candidates, including Pennsylvania Senate hopeful Dr Mehmet Oz and Michigan gubernatorial campaigner Tudor Dixon, lost, portion the results of a fig of different races are inactive to beryllium decided.

Ahead of the election, John Hudak, a elder chap astatine the Washington DC-based Brookings Institution, said that losses by his endorsed candidates could "raise questions astir his governmental acumen" among imaginable supporters oregon undecided voters.

Mr Trump has truthful acold shrugged disconnected immoderate proposition that helium tin beryllium held liable for a candidate's losses. On his Truth Social societal media platform, the ex-president lauded a "great evening" for his candidates and boasted that 174 of his candidates won, compared to lone 9 losses.

On predetermination night, helium besides said that helium should "get each the credit" for wins and "not beryllium blamed astatine all" for losses.

Still, immoderate person already begun faulting Mr Trump for the results.

Mr Trump whitethorn inactive person immoderate reasons to beryllium pleased astir Tuesday's results.

Chief among them is the information that a Republican-controlled House of Representatives - the astir apt effect - could dismantle the committee investigating the 6 January 2021 riot, which has agelong sought to link Mr Trump to the riot. The committee precocious issued a ineligible summons ordering Mr Trump to attest earlier it connected oregon earlier 14 November, the time earlier his "big announcement".

"That'll astir apt beryllium dismantled," said Grant Reeher, a governmental subject prof astatine Syracuse University, referring to the prime committee. "He'll assertion that vindicates him."

Additionally, the predetermination has already seen dozens of 2020 predetermination deniers elected to Congressional oregon state-wide seats, meaning that Mr Trump tin number connected a important artifact of governmental allies that judge that helium was the rightful victor of the erstwhile statesmanlike election.

Polls besides amusement that Mr Trump remains fashionable with immense swathes of the Republican elector base, a information that immoderate imaginable challenger - whether Mr DeSantis oregon different high-profile Republican - volition person to contend with if they anticipation to regenerate him arsenic the party's favoured campaigner for the White House.

"Somebody who seeks to regenerate Trump atop the Republican Party cannot unreal Trump is not there. Trump is simply a immense personality, who makes each contention a conflict of personalities," wrote David Frum, an exertion astatine The Atlantic who served successful erstwhile President's George W Bush administration.

"Refusing to prosecute is not an option, due to the fact that helium volition prosecute whether his people likes it oregon not. There's nary prime but to prosecute back."