Trump Says Iran War Contributed to Republican Losses in US Midterms
President acknowledges the conflict affected Republican candidates as Democrats capture control of both chambers of Congress and prepare to challenge his legislative agenda.
Trump acknowledges the Iran war contributed to Republican losses as Democrats take control of Congress.
US President Donald Trump has acknowledged that the war with Iran contributed to Republican losses in Tuesday’s midterm elections. Democrats have captured control of both the House of Representatives and the Senate, setting the stage for a new period of divided government.
In an interview with Fox News, Trump said Democrats would send legislation to his desk that he considered unacceptable. He vowed to veto such measures but suggested the two parties could eventually negotiate.
“They’ll send over things that are insane, and I’ll veto them,” Trump said. “And after a couple of months of vetoes, they’ll call and they’ll say, ‘How do we get this stuff done?’ And we’ll work together.”
Trump Acknowledges Impact of Iran War
Trump also recognised that the conflict with Iran had affected Republican candidates, although he defended his administration’s actions.
“I think a part of it was Iran, but at the same time people understood the importance of what I’ve done with Iran,” he said.
In separate remarks to The Wall Street Journal, Trump described Iran as “a piece of it”. He maintained that his decision to attack Iran was justified and said he would make the same decision again.
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The war, now in its ninth month, has remained unpopular among many Americans. Democratic candidates repeatedly linked the conflict to rising fuel prices and higher costs for consumers during their campaigns.
Democrats Take Control of Congress
Democrats secured majorities in both chambers, delivering a significant setback to Trump and his Republican Party.
The results marked a major shift in states that had supported Trump in the 2024 presidential election. Democrats made gains in traditionally Republican areas, including Texas, Kansas and South Carolina.
In Texas, Democrat James Talarico won a Senate seat, while Gina Hinojosa defeated three-term Republican Governor Greg Abbott.
Kansas elected Adam Hamilton as its first Democratic senator in nearly a century. In South Carolina, Democrat Annie Andrews defeated Trump-backed candidate Darline Graham.
Democrat Abdul El-Sayed also won Michigan’s open Senate seat, becoming the first Muslim elected to the US Senate.
Democrats made substantial gains in competitive House races as well. Reuters reported that the party had won all 20 of the closely watched contests decided at the time of its report.
New Congress Could Challenge Trump’s Agenda
Democratic control of Congress will give the opposition greater influence over legislation and federal oversight.
Once the new members take office in January, Democrats are expected to investigate the Trump administration and its allies. They will also be able to block presidential nominees in the Senate and demand concessions on major legislative proposals.
The election results follow two years of Republican control of Congress, during which the party largely supported Trump’s legislative agenda.
Trump had campaigned extensively before the vote, holding dozens of rallies and urging supporters to treat the election as a referendum on his presidency.
As Republican losses became apparent on Tuesday night, he posted on social media: “I wasn’t on the Ballot and if I was, we would have won IN A LANDSLIDE!”
Exit Polls Show Voter Dissatisfaction
Exit polls conducted by SSRS for a consortium of US media organisations, including major television networks and the Associated Press, highlighted widespread dissatisfaction among voters.
About half of those surveyed said they viewed the midterms as an opportunity to rebuke the president. Three-quarters described themselves as angry or dissatisfied with the direction of the country.
Furthermore, 70% said they wanted Congress to provide stronger checks and balances on the president.
Democratic Senator Jon Ossoff of Georgia described the results as a rebuke of Trump’s leadership while addressing supporters at a victory gathering.
The election has reshaped the balance of power in Washington. Democrats now face the challenge of translating their congressional victories into legislative action, while Trump must navigate a Congress controlled by his political opponents.
