Vice President JD Vance has blamed the Iran war for the Republicans’ sweeping losses in the midterm elections, publicly highlighting a point of disagreement with President Donald Trump as attention turns to the party’s leadership and the 2028 presidential race.
“Everyone knows why we lost,” Vance wrote in a lengthy post on X, adding that discussions about what comes next must begin with the reasons for the defeat. He also said voters who backed him and Trump two years ago were angry, and cited a poll indicating they wanted the Iran war to end, greater attention to living costs and inflation, an “America first” focus, and a change in relations with Israel.
Trump said Vance’s analysis was largely correct when asked about it, but stood by the war. He said he would not have acted differently, arguing that the goal was to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon. Vance, meanwhile, wrote that those who believed the war was worth the political cost could make that case, including the loss of the Senate for six years.
Republicans lost their majorities in both the House of Representatives and the Senate, making it harder for Trump to advance his agenda during the final two years of his term. A voter survey cited in the report found dissatisfaction with Trump’s policies—and, in particular, rising fuel prices linked to the Iran war—was a major factor in the Republican defeat.
Trump played down the prospect of Vance running for president in 2028, saying he did not know who would enter the race and that Vance might not run. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is also viewed as a potential contender to lead the Republicans, according to the report.
Vance acknowledged voters’ anger, calling on them to channel it into renewed efforts to “save our country.” Trump, for his part, said on election night that he would work with Democrats, while also pointing to his veto power. He said he did not want to spend the next two years vetoing everything.
Democrats’ new majorities could complicate Trump’s plans, though they cannot simply reverse his policies. Trump also said he was not worried about a possible impeachment effort. Jamie Raskin, a Democrat who could become chair of the House Judiciary Committee in January, told CNN that his party was not afraid to impeach Trump, while acknowledging that impeachment was not a cure-all.
The election covered all 435 House seats and 35 of the 100 Senate seats. Democrats also recorded notable victories in several states, including Kansas, Texas and Ohio, while Abdul El-Sayed’s win in Michigan will make him the first Muslim to serve in the Senate.
Sources: Handelsblatt.