Allies fear Trump will focus on NATO if he loses the midterm elections. Politico. NATO countries are preparing for the worst-case scenario following Tuesday's US midterm elections. European allies fear a Republican defeat could push President Donald Trump to sharply escalate attacks on the alliance, according to five NATO diplomats. They fear that if Congress constrains Trump on domestic policy, he, as commander-in-chief of the US military, may try to cement his legacy in foreign policy, where he has more leeway. That could mean several thousand more troops leaving Europe, three diplomats said. By all accounts, Democrats are likely to win the House and possibly shift the balance of power in the Senate, while Trump's approval rating has sunk to rock bottom. The concerns underscore rising transatlantic tensions after the U.S. cut Starlink satellite communications services to Ukraine and as Trump and Vladimir Putin grow closer in the weeks before the midterm elections. More attacks would deal a new blow to NATO just as Russia is stepping up its campaign of subversion and so-called hybrid warfare across Europe. "He can get very angry," said one NATO diplomat. In this case, "he will be very tough. "At the center of the concerns is the upcoming review of the levels of American soldiers in Europe, which will be carried out by December. If Trump fails to pass legislative reforms at home, he may try to significantly expand the scope of those cuts to rally his Make America Great Again (MAGA) base of supporters, three diplomats said.