What he said:
Speaking after Democrats seized both House and Senate in Nov 3 midterms, Trump told Fox News by phone Tuesday night:
> “We actually have the greatest economy, but because of the gasoline price, people don't see it as much... And the gasoline was caused by Iran. People agree with what I'm doing on Iran, but they really probably weren't willing to do the short-term consequence of paying more for gasoline.”
Asked Wednesday at White House ballroom site if he agreed with VP JD Vance's X post — "The reason we lost is the war" — Trump replied:
> “I think it's largely true because it drove the gasoline up a little bit short term. But at the same time, if I had it to do again, I'd have to do it again. Because long term, it's the only answer. You can't let Iran have a nuclear weapon.”
To Wall Street Journal: "Iran was a piece of it... I did the right thing. I would have done it again." To Politico: “My decision on Iran for the long term good of our country and even the world was absolutely the correct one.”
Read more - Hormuz on Hold
The numbers behind it:
- War launched late Feb 2026 with Israel, now in 9th month.
- US average gas on Election Day: $4.14 per AAA, highest November average in any election year since 1994 per EIA.
- Trump net approval down almost 20 points since January, tracking gas surge. Navigator Research Oct 8: 76% disapproved handling of gas prices, 20% approved.
- Republicans lost in 1,700+ counties, including deep-red Kansas (first Dem senator since 1932), South Carolina (Trump won by 18 points), Texas (ended GOP streak).
Trump insists "We have totally broken their military. The navy's gone. Their air force is gone. Their anti-aircraft is gone" and "tremendous oil flowing out of Hormuz now. At beginning, there was none." He said no major mistake made, no personnel change, backs Defense Sec Pete Hegseth who led war effort.
Read more - Bab el-Mandeb On Edge
Fallout in GOP:
Vance, likely 2028 MAGA heir — openly split: “If you'd like to argue it was worth it, that losing the Senate for next 6 years was worth it, then do so.”
Strategists called result "huge disaster." John Feehery: "He needs to clean house." Business Today: Republicans want Trump to overhaul team, reconsider Iran war and tariffs.
Iran's security chief Mohsen Rezai: “Tehran handed Trump a strategic defeat on the battlefield and in the Hormuz and a political defeat in Washington.”
Trump rejected rebuke framing: “It was a point in time, and I wasn't on the ballot. The biggest issue is that I wasn't on the ballot.”
He remains defiant while party counts losses — war justified, voters just didn't want to pay at pump.
#Trump #Midterms2026 #IranWar #GasPrices #RepublicanLosses #USPolitics #JD Vance #DoltAgain