President Donald Trump acknowledged that the war with Iran was one of the reasons for Republicans’ heavy losses in the Nov. 3 midterm elections but defended his decision to launch the military campaign in February.
The election delivered a major setback to Trump, with Democrats gaining control of both the House of Representatives and the Senate. The results have raised questions about the political cost of the war, which disrupted energy supplies and fueled inflation, driving up household expenses.
Asked whether the war had contributed to the Republican defeat, Trump told Fox News, “I think a part of it was Iran.” However, he stood by his decision, saying it was the right thing to do and that he “would have done it again.”
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“I think historically, it’s going to be much more important than this evening because you can’t let the number one state sponsor of terror have a nuclear weapon,” he added.
Trump also said he would cooperate with Democrats during the second half of his second term, a departure from his earlier position, when he threatened to veto legislation introduced by Democrats.
During election rallies, Trump had repeatedly urged voters to elect Republican candidates, framing the election as though he “himself is on the ballot.” However, in his post-election reaction, he rejected the idea that the results represented a personal setback.
“Well, I say this: congratulations to the Democrats. They did a good job. They’ve been looking for this one for 11 years, and they finally got it. But I don’t view it as a hit on me,” Trump said.
Trump’s allies and Republican strategists have pointed to the economic consequences of the ongoing war as a major factor behind the party’s poor performance. Some also blamed Trump for dragging Republican candidates down with his unpopular policies.
“We got destroyed because of Iran,” a top Republican strategist said. “Iran is what caused gas prices and diesel prices to skyrocket — not tariffs. If Republicans want to rebuild, the first step is ending the war in Iran and embracing an actual America First foreign policy,” the Trump supporter added.
“It’s on him. It’s not on anybody else. It’s a total, complete rejection of President Trump,” another top Republican lobbyist in Texas said.
READ: Oil shipments near Strait of Hormuz turn costlier as sailors risk attacks for $25,000 (October 5, 2026)
During the campaign, Republican candidates struggled to defend the administration’s policies on issues including the war, immigration and inflation. Democrats, meanwhile, linked ongoing geopolitical tensions to rising household and transportation costs. Some Republican supporters argued that the Trump administration should end the war and refocus on its “America First” agenda, prioritizing domestic issues.
In a Truth Social post, Trump wrote, “I wasn’t on the Ballot and if I was, we would have won IN A LANDSLIDE! Thank you for your attention to this matter.”
Republicans also lost traditionally safe Senate seats, including in Texas, ending a decades-long stronghold. Democrat James Talarico defeated Republican Ken Paxton. Several other Trump-endorsed candidates also lost their races.