The results of the US midterm elections, widely seen as a “stunning rebuke” to President Donald Trump, may significantly change how the world treats his administration and its actions. For the past two years, global leaders and media have been largely deferential to the increasingly erratic and dangerous whims of the visibly declining president, given the power of his office and the shock of his re-election.

However, the massive swing in political fortunes may embolden those who have been hesitant to resist or walk away from the Trump administration. Many are concerned that Trump may lash out in response to this rebuke, possibly by restarting a war with Iran to claim a “win.” There is also speculation that key figures in his administration, such as Secretary of War Pete Hegseth and “special negotiators” Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff, may face indictments or investigations into their actions and business deals.

The global impact of the midterms will largely depend on who is emboldened by the results and which “rats” choose to leave the sinking ship. The tech billionaires and even figures like Vladimir Putin may no longer be able to act with confidence that the White House can deliver for them.

In the Middle East, there are striking similarities between the actions of Trump and his once-close Israeli partner, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Both leaders have attempted to vilify and delegitimize opponents, with Netanyahu targeting Arab and Palestinian Israelis for voting in record numbers and suggesting the election was stolen from Jewish Israelis. However, institutional Israel has rejected these attempts, with Israeli President Isaac Herzog condemning the racist expressions and the election commission resisting challenges to the vote’s validity.

The concern remains that both Trump and Netanyahu may launch an attack on Iran as a last show of claimed omnipotence, although opinions are now more divided on whether this will occur.

Ultimately, the US midterms have highlighted the irreparable damage Trump has done to the standing of the United States in just a couple of years. Other countries have grown accustomed to making alternative plans, and relationships in Europe and the Middle East have been overhauled. The world’s perception of and approach to the Trump administration may be forever changed by this stunning electoral rebuke.