Pakistan may have a problem in Washington. It spent much of the past year building a direct relationship with Donald Trump. But with Democrats now taking control of both chambers of the US Congress, that carefully cultivated relationship could become a liability.

The 2026 midterm elections have changed the balance of power in Washington. Democrats have flipped both the House of Representatives and the Senate, giving them control of key congressional committees, investigative powers and the purse strings. Trump remains President, but the final two years of his term will be considerably more challenging.

In Pakistan, the initial reaction has been relatively optimistic. Political figures and former diplomats have congratulated Democratic winners, while analysts are urging Islamabad to reach out to the incoming Democratic leadership and build bipartisan relationships. But this optimism may be misplaced.

Democrats are preparing to scrutinise Trump's policies, business interests and foreign dealings. And Pakistan has placed itself rather close to one of those business interests.

Consider World Liberty Financial, the cryptocurrency venture linked to the Trump family. Pakistan signed an MoU with an affiliated company in January 2026, exploring the use of its USD1 stablecoin for cross-border payments and digital transactions. The agreement was signed by Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb and WLFI CEO Zachary Witkoff.

This was not just a financial arrangement. It also gave Islamabad an opportunity to cultivate closer ties with Trump's business ecosystem and, potentially, the White House.

But that could now create problems. Democratic lawmakers have already raised questions about WLFI's foreign investments and potential conflicts of interest. With control of Congress, they have greater powers to investigate these dealings, demand records and question officials.

Pakistan could find its own arrangements with WLFI under scrutiny. This could create regulatory complications, damage investor confidence and potentially derail its cryptocurrency ambitions. It could also expose the risks of Pakistan's personalised approach to Washington.

There is another concern: US financial and military assistance. Democrats have called for stricter conditions on foreign aid, with Senator-elect Abdul El-Sayed specifically questioning taxpayer funding for Pakistan and other foreign militaries. While most US assistance to Pakistan is economic rather than military, future funding and security cooperation could face tougher scrutiny.

Pakistan may have gained access to Trump. But can it survive the scrutiny of Congress? That is the question Islamabad now needs to answer.

Deepak Bhadana

Over the past decade, Deepak Bhadana has built expertise in multimedia storytelling, with a focus on military conflicts, insurgencies, international relations, the defence industry, and occasionally, wildlife and environmental issues.