US Election Day: Trump and the Divisions in the Republican Party
US voters are choosing a new Congress on 3 November, and polls suggest the Democratic Party could take control of one or both chambers. A Latvian Radio programme examines how President Donald Trump has changed the Republican Party and why some Republicans are distancing themselves from him.
On Tuesday, 3 November, voters in the United States are casting ballots to decide the new make-up of Congress, the country's legislature, which has two chambers. The latest polls indicate that the opposition Democratic Party could take over leadership in one chamber or even both. That would be a significant shift for President Donald Trump, since his party's influence in Congress could shrink.
The topic has been examined by the Latvian Radio programme "(ne)Diplomātiskās pusdienas" ("(Un)Diplomatic Lunches"). This time it focused on the inner workings of the Republican Party and on how Trump has changed it. The programme also looked at why some Republicans are trying to distance themselves from him, and at the growing dissatisfaction with the president's decisions.
A third theme is what is happening in Congress with the so-called "grilling" of Republicans. The source does not explain this term in more detail.
No information on the final results is available yet. Polls show only a possible trend, and the outcome will become clear once the votes have been counted.
