After a heavy defeat, what will Trump do now?
Nada Tawfiq, the BBC's North American correspondent.
Donald Trump admitted that his decision to start a war against Iran in the mid-term elections hurt his party.
There was speculation that he might escalate the conflict after polling day, and that possibility still exists.
But now, can the American president instead look for a way out of the Iran war so he can save face.
His deputy, Jeddy Vance — in a lengthy social media post that pointed to Republican failures — all but backed a diplomatic solution to the standoff, and Trump has reportedly asked his advisers whether he should get rid of Defense Secretary Pete Gast, although the president himself denies it.
There is another big decision at stake - will Trump spend the last two years of his presidency vetoing every Democratic legislative proposal? His tone is remarkably conciliatory and he is willing to work with the Democrats. But he also posted a photo of a red veto hat on social media.
So wait. And now what will happen to the Maga faction of the Republican Party?
Some commentators on the right argue that the defeat of the Republicans was because Trump betrayed the movement - but will the movement even exist without an 80-year-old leader? Republicans can't afford to spend too much time healing their wounds — they need to formulate a new strategy.