Right-Wing Populism Faces Test After U.S. Midterm Defeat
· World · The Hindu, Indian Express
The Republican Party suffered a historic defeat in the 2026 U.S. midterm elections, raising questions about the trajectory of right-wing populism globally. Donald Trump's rise in the 2010s had legitimised and amplified right-wing populist movements across democracies, with active support for leaders in Brazil, El Salvador, Hungary, and alignment with strongmen in Russia, China, and Turkiye. Right-wing populism distinguishes itself by targeting both a globalist business elite and immigrants as dual enemies of the people, while expanding executive power and weakening institutional checks. The article notes that if Trump weakens, political equations could shift well beyond the United States. Anger among young protesters in India, France, and other countries is also noted as a potential force for new political expression. The exact impact of the midterm loss on global populist momentum remains unclear.
Why it matters
A sustained decline in Trump's influence could weaken right-wing populist leaders and movements worldwide, altering democratic politics in multiple countries including India where youth anger is seeking political outlets.
Read the original report — The Hindu
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