‘Trump voters were angry’ — JD Vance blames Iran war for Republican losses in US mid-terms

JD Vance, vice-president of the United States, has blamed the war with Iran for Republican losses in the mid-term elections, saying voters who backed President Donald Trump were angry.

In a post on X on Wednesday, Vance said polling showed that the Trump administration’s economic messaging lacked clarity in the final weeks of the campaign.

“I’m sure that’s true. But the real reason we lost is obvious to almost everyone,” he wrote.

Vance said polls asking voters why they turned away from Republicans showed they wanted an end to the war with Iran, greater attention to the cost of living, an “America First” approach and changes to US relations with Israel.

“The reason we lost is the war. The president himself said so last night. 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. Argue it was a worthwhile cost to pay,” the US vice-president added.

“Agree or disagree, that’s at least honest. But everyone knows why we lost. And any honest conversation about where we go from here must start there.”

In his first public appearance since the war began, Trump offered conditional support for Vance’s assessment.

“I think it’s largely true because it drove the gasoline up a little bit short term,” Trump said.

“At the same time, if I had it to do again, I’d have to do it again because, in the long term, it’s the only answer.

“You can’t let Iran have a nuclear weapon.”

The US president said he was not surprised by Vance’s post.

“I know how he feels about it. I think it was—I think it was fine,” he said.

Asked whether the war was worth it, Trump said, “as far as that war is concerned, I would have done nothing different”.

Hakeem Jeffries, who is poised to become Democratic house speaker in January, said one of the party’s most urgent priorities would be ending the war in Iran. (TheCable)