As the Republican party finally seized a slender majority in the House of Representatives on Wednesday days after polling in midterm elections closed on November 3, the US will have a divided government for the next two years

However, even though Republicans will enjoy a veto over President Joe Biden’s agendas in the country, Democrats will control the Senate, which they secured last week, and the White House, which was not on the ballot.

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The days of ambitious legislation such as those that marked the first two years of President Joe Biden’s term – infrastructure, climate change and healthcare extension, are over. There will be instead a litany of congressional investigations into the Biden administration and bitter confrontations between the White House and the Republican-controlled House.

These tensions will be exacerbated by the 2024 presidential elections that got underway with former President Donald Trump announcing his third bid for the White House – 2016 and 2020 were the earlier two – on Tuesday.

For now, however, Biden, who takes pride in his ability to work with the other side congratulated the Republicans and promised to work with them. “I congratulate Leader McCarthy on Republicans winning the House majority, and am ready to work with House Republicans to deliver results for working families,” he said in a statement.

“In this election, voters spoke clearly about their concerns: the need to lower costs, protect the right to choose, and preserve our democracy,” Biden said, adding, “As I said last week, the future is too promising to be trapped in political warfare. The American people want us to get things done for them. They want us to focus on the issues that matter to them and on making their lives better. And I will work with anyone – Republican or Democrat – willing to work with me to deliver results for them.”

However, Democrats could expand their majority if Senator Raphael Warnock, Democrat of Georgia maintains his runoff slated next month.