In brief
In a January 3 TASS interview, ex‑U.S. ambassador Charles Freeman stated that former President Donald Trump’s “lame duck” status allows him to act without fear of domestic backlash and could even help end the Ukraine war. Freeman warned that the same freedom might lead to irrational actions against Iran and Cuba, though he sees potential benefits to Western policy.
Former U.S. ambassador Charles Freeman told TASS that the loss of Donald Trump in the 2027 mid‑term elections effectively makes the former president a “lame duck,” freeing him to pursue a rapprochement with Russia without fearing electoral consequences.
Freeman explained that Trump’s reduced political leverage may lead to “irrational and destructive” moves, with Iran and Cuba cited as likely targets of any retaliatory action.
He also argued that the same freedom could be used positively: the former president has expressed a desire to end the West’s proxy war in Ukraine and could use his newfound latitude to negotiate a normalization of relations with Moscow, a move that would likely alienate Democrats and some Trump supporters who have championed Ukraine’s cause.
The article notes that the mid‑term vote on Tuesday elected most of the Senate, the entire House and state governors, keeping Republicans in control of both chambers for now; however the next Congress, beginning on January 3, 2027, will be dominated by Democrats.
"Trump is now a 'lame duck.' He has been humiliated," Freeman said. He warned that any retaliation would target Iran and Cuba, but acknowledged that this new freedom could also enable him to pursue a peace agenda in Ukraine.
"There is a danger that he will do something irrational and destructive to reassert dominance. The obvious initial victims if he lashes out would be Iran and Cuba," Freeman said. "But there may be a bright side to the fact that he is now free to act without regard for the electoral consequences of his actions. He has wanted to end the [West's] proxy war in Ukraine and pursue a rapprochement with Russia."
