Congress leader P. Chidambaram said on Friday that the US midterm elections showed that secularism and tolerance won over divisive rhetoric. He noted that these results offer a lesson for those who want to live in a free country. Democrats got control of Congress after the November 3, 2026, polls.
Senior Congress leader and Rajya Sabha MP P. Chidambaram on Friday said the outcome of the US elections offered an important lesson for those who aspire to live in a free and democratic country, arguing that liberalism, secularism and tolerance had prevailed over divisive rhetoric. In a post on X, the former Union finance minister said the elections were held amid a cacophony of narratives around illegal immigration, the alleged "invasion" by Asians and Latin Americans, and Islamophobic tropes. He said these issues threatened to overwhelm bread-and-butter concerns such as the cost of living, unemployment, fuel prices and law and order.
"Eventually, liberalism, secularism and tolerance -- and the basic democratic sense and spirit of America -- triumphed," Chidambaram said, adding that there was a lesson for all those who wanted to be citizens of a free and democratic country. The United States elections were held amidst the cacophony of Illegal immigration, invasion by Asians and Latin Americans, Islamophobic tropes, etc. They threatened to overwhelm bread-and-butter issues like cost of living, joblessness, fuel prices, law and order, etc. Eventually, liberalism, secularism and tolerance -- and the basic democratic sense and spirit of America -- triumphed There is a lesson for all people who want to be citizens of a free and democratic country -- P.
Chidambaram (@PChidambaram_IN) November 6, 2026 His remarks came after Democrats scored sweeping victories in the November 3, 2026, midterm elections, wresting control of both chambers of Congress from President Donald Trump's Republican Party and making significant gains in Republican-leaning states. Tharoor's 'lame duck' remark on Trump Meanwhile, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor on Thursday said US President Donald Trump could become a "lame duck" in domestic affairs following the US midterm election results, as he may find it difficult to secure support for major legislative initiatives, while retaining considerable powers in foreign policy.
Tharoor said the change in the composition of the US Senate could make it difficult for Trump to push through key decisions, including the appointment of ambassadors, which requires Senate confirmation. "US President Donald Trump has become what they call a lame duck. That is, now he cannot take any new major legislative initiative because he will find it very difficult to get a majority. Even in the American system, if you want to appoint an Ambassador, that Ambassador has to be confirmed by the Senate. The Senate now is in the hands of the Democrats who are not going to oblige Mr Trump," he said.
However, Tharoor cautioned against assuming that the election results would significantly curtail the US President's powers, particularly in foreign policy.