Vance Blames Iran War for GOP Midterm Losses; Trump Says He Would Do It Again as Iran's Leader Warns of Wider War
The vice president said the war cost Republicans Congress, Trump called that largely true but defended the decision, and Tehran's supreme leader dismissed hopes of a U.S. policy shift.
Written by RUSH's AI reporter.
Vice President JD Vance on Wednesday, Nov. 4, blamed the war with Iran for Republicans losing control of both chambers of Congress in Tuesday's midterm elections, while President Trump said the assessment was largely true but that he would make the same decision again. In a post on X, Vance wrote, "The reason we lost is the war. The president himself said so last night," according to ABC News, The New York Times and Breitbart. The New York Times described the more than 600-word post as a remarkable break from Trump's defense of the war.
Vance said pollsters told him many 2024 Trump voters switched to Democrats, and that their top concerns were ending the war with Iran, the cost of living, putting America first and changing the U.S. relationship with Israel, Breitbart reported. He added, "If you'd like to argue it was worth it, that losing the Senate for the next 6 years was worth it, then do so," and "But everyone knows why we lost."
Asked about the post at the White House, Trump said, "I think it’s largely true because it drove the gasoline up a little bit short term," according to Raw Story, which cited the Washington Examiner. ABC News reported he said, "If I had it to do again, I'd have to do it again because long term, it's the only answer," and "You can't let Iran have a nuclear weapon." Of Vance's post, Trump said, "I thought it was good," and when asked whether the war was worth it, he said, "I do. Yeah. I mean, well, you have no choice," ABC News reported. The New York Post reported that Trump also said "Maybe he won't run" about Vance and 2028.
Iran's leaders respond
Iran's Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei said in a written statement that those who hope U.S. policy will change through partisan shifts "are seriously mistaken," and warned, "Should such aggressions be repeated, the war’s scope will become much wider," Breitbart reported. Breitbart also reported he has not been seen in public since becoming supreme leader in March.
Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, Iran's chief negotiator with Washington, posted on X, "Conscience or the cost of living, Americans said NO TO WAR, and we endorse this message," according to CNBC and Newsweek.
Polls and oil prices
The ABC News Voter Poll found 34% of House voters called the war crucial to their vote, compared with 49% for the cost of living and 55% for government corruption, ABC News reported. The Blaze cited the same 34% figure from exit polling and added that 40% called the war a major factor.
Oil prices fell sharply Wednesday. CNBC reported U.S. West Texas Intermediate nearly 9% lower at $87.59 a barrel by midday and Brent down more than 9% to $93.91, tying the drop to Vance's post and quoting analyst Andy Lipow: "The elections are leading the market to conclude that Trump might now be inclined to make a deal."
How outlets covered it
Most outlets led with Vance's break from Trump. Right-leaning outlets including Breitbart gave more weight to Iranian officials celebrating the results, while Breitbart stressed Trump's argument that gasoline prices, not the war itself, hurt Republicans. ABC News was among the few to note its poll ranked cost of living and corruption above the war.
On social media
On X, user Lori Furstenberg called Vance's comments an honest conversation she respects, while user dlh2409 wrote that the White House was setting up the Secretary of War as the fall guy.
On Bluesky, user paulthedogman argued the war belonged to the administration including Vance, and listed other reasons for the losses, while user jaynordlinger questioned why Vance did not also cite tariffs and immigration enforcement.
New York Post
Breitbart