Vice President JD Vance sharply criticized President Donald Trump’s war in Iran on Wednesday morning as he considers his political future and a potential 2028 presidential campaign.
In a lengthy post on X, Vance delivered a sweeping assessment of the Republican Party’s defeat, arguing that the conflict in Iran was the central reason for the loss. He also appealed to Republican voters to give the MAGA movement another opportunity in the future.
“The reason we lost is the war. The President himself said so last night,” Vance wrote.
He challenged supporters of the military action to acknowledge the political price of urging the United States into another conflict in the Middle East.
“If you’d like to argue it was worth it, that losing the Senate for the next six years was worth it, then do so. Argue it was a worthwhile cost to pay. Agree or disagree, that’s at least honest,” he said.
Vance published his response to the election just before arriving at the White House by motorcade for private meetings.
Trump had withdrawn from public view at the White House, with private policy discussions scheduled but no public events on his calendar.
In a late-night interview with Fox News, Trump acknowledged that soaring gasoline prices had hurt Republicans at the polls and were one consequence of the war in Iran.
Vice President JD Vance broke his silence on the midterm election results Wednesday
Vance spent extended periods campaigning for Republican candidates during the midterms
“I understand that, I don’t agree with it… it’s a short-term problem for long-term gain… The gasoline was caused by Iran,” Trump said.
Vance had privately advised the President against the war, but for most of the year he limited his public criticism of the policy.
He urged Trump’s supporters to remain patient, maintaining that the conflict would not become a “forever war” in the Middle East like the prolonged and unpopular wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio had also privately cautioned Trump before the United States entered the war in Iran. However, Rubio largely avoided public criticism after the operation failed to produce the swift conclusion the President had promised.
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On Wednesday, however, Vance made his frustration with the conflict clear, saying Trump’s supporters were deeply dissatisfied with the decision to pursue it.
The Vice President pointed to findings from some of his most trusted pollsters, saying Trump voters turned out but delivered a clear warning to Republican leaders.
“I felt negative going into Tuesday, but even I was shocked by this,” he wrote.
According to the data cited by Vance, Trump’s supporters wanted the Iran war to end and wanted the administration to focus more heavily on the cost of living and inflation.
Vance also cited polling showing that Trump voters wanted the President and his administration to put “America first” and reconsider the country’s relationship with Israel.
Although Vance has strongly supported Trump’s deportation agenda, he insisted that granting “amnesty” to illegal immigrants would not solve the country’s immigration problems.
“I’m open to the idea that we should change enforcement – by focusing more on businesses that hire illegal labor, for instance. But anyone pushing amnesty is lying to you,” he said, warning that political experts would inevitably try to “gaslight” voters on immigration.
Vance said he remained “hopeful” about the country’s future and urged frustrated supporters to stay involved in politics despite the Republican Party’s setbacks.
The Vice President outlined what he believed Republicans got wrong in the midterms
Vance and Marco Rubio privately warned the President against the war in Iran but limited their public criticism
“To the people who are pissed off and want to say, ‘I told you so’: You’re right, you did tell us so,” he concluded.
“Take that energy into electing Republicans who share your worldview. To the people who are just pissed at the results, you should be. Let’s take that anger and get back to the work of saving our country.”
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