WALL STREET RACES FOR MEGADEALS AS COUNTDOWN BEGINS ON TRUMP ERA

What happened: President Donald Trump's return to the White House revived corporate appetite for large mergers, and Democratic midterm gains are pushing boards to move on transformational deals while M&A-friendly regulators remain in place. Key numbers: More than half Why it matters: Advisers describe a "now or never" mentality, with megadeals taking months to negotiate and clear reviews, and companies warned that waiting until the 2028 campaign risks deals becoming political footballs. A Democrat-led Congress could scrutinize sensitive M&A through hearings, investigations and subpoenas.

President Donald Trump's return to the White House revived corporate appetite for large mergers, and Democratic midterm gains are pushing boards to move on transformational deals while M&A-friendly regulators remain in place.

Advisers describe a "now or never" mentality, with megadeals taking months to negotiate and clear reviews, and companies warned that waiting until the 2028 campaign risks deals becoming political footballs. A Democrat-led Congress could scrutinize sensitive M&A through hearings, investigations and subpoenas.