Trump says Republicans harmed by Iran war, inability to 'transfer the love' for him

President Donald Trump stated on Wednesday that the war with Iran was worth it to prevent Tehran from obtaining a nuclear weapon, despite acknowledging its role in Republican losses during the midterm elections. Trump told reporters that the conflict drove up gasoline prices in the short term, which Al-Monitor reported was a strong factor in the Democratic gains.

Speaking at a White House ballroom construction site, Trump told The Korea Times that while the war's impact on gas prices was a factor, he would do it again because it is the only long-term answer.

Vice President JD Vance attributed the Republican defeat to the Iran war, arguing the conflict caused voters to swing toward the Democrats. According to The National UAE, Vance noted that polling data suggested many voters who supported Trump in 2024 were angry with the administration over the war, inflation, and the cost of living.

Following the election, Democrats secured control of both the House of Representatives and the Senate, including victories in Texas, North Carolina, Ohio, and Kansas, according to the Jerusalem Post.

In the wake of the election results, Brent crude fell more than 9% to $93.91, while oil futures have dropped more than 14% this week, according to Quartz. The Jerusalem Post noted that Trump indicated he would work with Democrats while maintaining his intent to veto legislation he considers unacceptable.

Brief written by urgent.news from Al-Monitor, The Korea Times, Jerusalem Post, Quartz, The National UAE — 5 reports on this story. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.