US Vice President JD Vance has blamed the Iran war for The Republicans’ heavy losses in the midterm elections, saying the party must address the conflict when deciding how to move forward. In a post on X, he said President Donald Trump had made the same point on election night. Vance had previously remained publicly loyal to Trump and his approach to the conflict.
Vance said many voters who backed him and Trump in the presidential election two years ago were angry. He cited a poll indicating that disappointed voters wanted the Iran war to end, more focus on living costs and inflation, an America-first approach, and a change in relations with Israel. Vance said he understood their frustration and urged Republicans to channel it into renewed efforts to serve the country.
The effects of the conflict on Americans were among the central issues in the midterms, according to polls. The United States and Israel attacked Iran in late February. The conflict remains unresolved, and energy prices have risen sharply as a result.
Democrats won control of both chambers of Congress. Their gains included Senate victories in states where the party had struggled for decades, while preliminary projections put them ahead of the Republicans in the Senate and pointed to a clear lead in the House. The shift will make it harder for Trump to advance his agenda during the final two years of his term, though Democratic majorities cannot easily reverse his policies.
Trump said on election night that he would work with Democrats to help the country, while also pointing to his veto power. Democrats are set to shape legislation from January and can hold investigations into the president and his administration. The House can also begin impeachment proceedings, but Democrats have shown little interest in launching another such effort, and removing a presidential veto would require a two-thirds majority in both chambers.
Sources: Handelsblatt.