Trump says Iran war largely cost Republicans the midterms but would start it again
Trump admits the Iran conflict helped sink Republican control of Congress but insists the intervention was necessary to stop Iran developing nuclear weapons.
President Donald Trump acknowledged that the war with Iran “is largely true” as one of the factors behind the Republican defeat at the congressional elections, but he said he does not regret ordering the military action and would make the same choice again. "If I had to decide again, I'd do it again. You cannot allow Iran to have nuclear weapons," he told reporters.
Vice President J.D. Vance points to the war as decisive
Trump linked the electoral setback to the conflict's economic fallout — notably higher fuel prices and broader pressure on American living standards — saying the war contributed substantially to voters’ dissatisfaction. The Republican Party lost control of both chambers of Congress in the vote.
Vice President J.D. Vance was more direct, telling party members and advisers that the Iran war was the main reason for the losses and that a segment of voters who supported Trump in 2024 crossed over to back Democrats this time. Vance urged Republican leaders to review their approach on the war, on economic policy and on United States support for Israel.
Despite the electoral blow, Trump has not signalled any shift in military strategy. He continued to defend the intervention as necessary to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons and framed it as a long-term security imperative for the United States.
The confrontation with Iran has therefore become one of the biggest political problems for Trump going into the second half of his term, when he will have to govern with a Congress controlled by Democrats. The outcome is likely to intensify internal debate inside the Republican Party over foreign policy, the economy and messaging to swing voters.
How the Republican leadership responds — whether by recalibrating policy, changing rhetoric, or maintaining the current course — will shape the party’s prospects in the coming months as it seeks to regain congressional seats and reassure voters worried about prices and national security.
Photo: press material from the event
