United States Vice President, JD Vance, has blamed the Iran war for costing the Republicans a majority in Congress during the recently-held midterm elections in the country.
In a long post on X on Wednesday, Vance wrote, “The reason we lost is the war.” He said President Donald Trump had effectively acknowledged as much the night before, when Trump said the conflict was a factor in the losses but maintained it was justified.
Vance challenged defenders of the war to make their case openly. If they believe giving up the Senate for six years was an acceptable price, he said, they should say so, which he called at least an honest position. He added that any serious discussion of the party’s path forward has to begin with that explanation.
He also conceded that many people who voted for Trump and Vance in 2024 backed Democrats this year. Citing a pollster he respects, he said the war and the economy were the main drivers, along with a wish among some voters to change America’s relationship with Israel.
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The remarks carry extra weight for Vance, long seen as the frontrunner for the 2028 Republican presidential nomination, though he has not formally announced a run.
A longtime critic of US military interventions abroad, he was reportedly skeptical in private about the war that Trump and Israel launched in late February. The Democratic wave has nonetheless raised questions about his standing.
Democrats were quick to press their advantage. Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer said the war must end and suggested his party could use Congress’s control of government spending to pressure the White House. He argued that Americans still do not understand what the US is fighting for in Iran.
The White House struck a defiant tone, posting an image of Trump at the Resolute Desk with a message that he remains the country’s president. Trump has threatened to use his veto, which could limit what a Democratic Congress can accomplish.
The midterm results reflect broad frustration with the cost of living, tariffs and the Iran war, which has pushed prices higher and added to dissatisfaction with an already unpopular president.
