S1E98: What Trump’s midterm rout means for Singapore, Asean and China | Blackbox Research CEO David Black

Nov 5, 2026

43:40

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The Republican Party’s crushing defeat could reshape American politics, but Asia should not expect US politics to return to what it was before President Donald Trump, says the Blackbox Research CEO David Black.

In this conversation with The Straits Times' senior columnist Bhavan Jaipragas - recorded on Nov 4, hours after polls closed - Black explains why he sees Trump's defeat as an extraordinary act of political self-sabotage.

With Democrats projected to take control of both chambers of Congress, what comes next for President Donald Trump? Will he moderate his approach, or become even more combative?

Black also discusses what this means for Asia, and how Beijing might read the election results.

Highlights (click/tap above):

3:48 Republican midterm loss is the worst result since 1974

7:21 Why voters turned up in large numbers

9:32 Why Trump might ditch MAGA

11:47 Are Republicans distancing themselves from Trump?

13:03 Trump’s scapegoat: Pete Hegseth

14:40 Potential Democrat front-runners for the US presidency

20:22 Democrats “can’t do much about” tariffs

23:47 Impact of midterm results on the Iran war and US foreign policy

26:03 Would Asian diplomats and leaders change their approach towards the US?

28:05 China’s response to the US midterm election results