By Salma El-Sakka
Vice President JD Vance said on Wednesday that the U.S. war against Iran was the primary reason Republicans suffered a sweeping defeat in the 2026 midterm elections, a result widely viewed as a rebuke of Donald Trump’s presidency.
Vance points to war as decisive factor
In a lengthy post on X, Vance stated that the conflict doomed the party’s chances, echoing Trump’s own admission the night before. “The real reason we lost is obvious to almost everyone … The reason we lost is the war,” Vance wrote, adding that any honest assessment of the party’s future must start with that acknowledgment.
Trump acknowledges impact but stands by decision
Trump told the Wall Street Journal in a phone interview that Iran “was a piece of it” when asked about the war’s electoral impact, but he hedged and said he had no regrets about launching the conflict in February alongside Israel. “I don’t think about it. I did the right thing. I would have done it again,” he said.
Vance’s earlier skepticism
Vance, who had reportedly been skeptical about the unresolved war, appears to be distancing himself from the unpopular conflict ahead of a possible 2028 presidential run.
