Donald Trump and US midterms: How bad was his night?

Standing before a crowd of adoring supporters in Ohio earlier this week, former President Donald Trump made a promise - a "big announcement" on 15 November, exactly a week after a predicted "red wave" of Republican victories in the midterm elections, which many observers saw as a litmus test of his influence over the party.

The wave, however, turned out to be more of a wavelet.

Mr Trump's announcement - a much-hinted-at 2024 presidential run - will come after an election in which many of his endorsed candidates underperformed, throwing into question the continued viability of the "Make America Great Again" brand of US conservatism.

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