Donald Trump Jr has backed JD Vance’s blistering criticism of the US president’s war with Iran after Republicans suffered a devastating defeat in the midterm elections.
The Republican Party lost control of both the House and Senate, as voters treated the elections as a referendum on the White House’s performance. Rising petrol prices, the effects of tariffs and the conflict with Iran all fueled growing public anger.
As the scale of the losses became clear, Vice President Vance launched an extraordinary attack on the president’s handling of the war in a lengthy post on X.
Vance, considered a leading Republican contender for the 2028 presidential race, outlined what he believed had driven the party’s defeat and asked 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.
Trump’s eldest son responded approvingly, writing: “Every word of this is…” before adding three Hundred Points emojis.
Vance also challenged those who had supported military action against Iran, calling on them to accept responsibility for pushing 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.
Donald Trump Jr (pictured at a rally in Ohio on November 2) joined JD Vance’s criticism of the US President’s war with Iran
Vance published his election reaction just moments before arriving at the White House in his motorcade for private meetings.
The president withdrew into the White House for private policy discussions, with no public appearances scheduled for Wednesday night.
By early afternoon, however, he summoned reporters to the White House ballroom.
Trump made no reference to the crushing election results until he was questioned about them, then acknowledged that the war had played a part.
“It is largely true,” he conceded. But he added: “If I had to do it again, I would do it. You can’t let Iran have a nuclear weapon.”
Asked about the 2028 presidential contest and whether Vance might run, Trump said: “Maybe he won’t run. I don’t know who is going to run.”
Vance had privately urged the president not to launch the war but kept his public criticism restrained for much of the year.
YOU MAY ALSO READ: Biden Spends the Day Calling Democrats to Offer Congratulations
He called on Trump supporters to remain patient, arguing that the conflict in Iran was not destined to become a “forever war” in the Middle East like the long and unpopular campaigns in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio had also privately advised Trump to proceed cautiously before the United States went to war with Iran. However, he avoided speaking frequently about the operation after it failed to end as quickly as the president had predicted.
In a late-night interview with Fox News, Trump acknowledged that higher gas prices were one damaging consequence of the war in Iran and had hurt Republicans at the polls.
“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,” he said.
During the run-up to the midterms, Trump traveled to rallies across the country and urged supporters to “pretend I’m on the ballot.”
Even before the full extent of the Republican losses was known, however, he sought to distance himself from any blame.
“I don’t like to consider it a defeat for me. I wasn’t on the ballot,” Trump said.
Which US president best reflects YOUR political views?
Voters fill out their ballots to vote in the midterm elections on Election Day in Detroit, Michigan
The president claimed that he simply “didn’t like the [Republican] candidates” who appeared on the ballot.
Democrats made gains among moderate voters, particularly in key Senate contests where they captured seats previously held by Republicans.
About two-thirds of moderates backed the Democratic candidate in their local US House race, up from roughly six in 10 moderate voters who supported Kamala Harris.
Around eight in 10 moderate voters said Congress was not doing enough to act as a check on the presidency.
A similarly large proportion said inflation had caused them at least “moderate” financial hardship during the previous year.
More to follow.