WASHINGTON, November 5 (Aalimi Nation) – US President Donald Trump has acknowledged that the Iran war contributed heavily to his Republican Party's defeat in the midterm elections, even as he insisted he would take the same decision again. His comments followed a public statement by Vice President JD Vance, who said the conflict was the reason the party lost control of Congress.

Vance wrote in a post on social media that "The reason we lost is the war," adding that "The president himself said so last night." He challenged defenders of the conflict to argue that losing the Senate for the next six years had been worth it.

He listed four changes he said the party needed to make: end the war, concentrate on inflation and the cost of living, put America first, and change the United States' relationship with Israel. Vance also said a pollster had found that many people who voted for the Trump-Vance ticket in 2024 had backed Democrats this time. He said he had felt negative going into election day, "but even I was shocked by this."

Responding to Vance's assessment, Trump called it "largely true" because the war had pushed up fuel prices. He did not retreat from the decision, however. "If I had to do it again, I'd have to do it again because long term, it's the only answer," he said, adding that Iran could not be allowed to have a nuclear weapon. In an earlier interview he said he had no regrets and believed he had done the right thing.

Democrats won back the House of Representatives, with projections suggesting they would end up with more than 230 seats while counting continued. They also flipped at least six Senate seats, giving them control of both chambers. House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries said "Today begins the great American comeback" and described the result as a rejection of extremism and corruption.

Polling cited after the election showed the economy was the top concern for about four in ten voters, with worries centred on petrol and grocery prices that rose after the United States launched its war on Iran in February. Vance has been among those involved in efforts to find a way to end the eight-month conflict, and he is widely seen as a possible Republican presidential contender in 2028.

The Democratic National Committee questioned Vance's sincerity. Its communications director, Rosemary Boeglin, said Vance "started this deadly, costly war with Trump" and asked why he had not spoken out earlier or resigned.

Mark Pfeifle, a former deputy national security adviser under President George W. Bush, described Vance's remarks as a sign of political maturity and an acceptance of responsibility. Nick Rahall, a former Democratic congressman, said Vance appeared to be distancing himself from Trump and that other Republicans were likely to follow.

Several races remained undecided as counting went on. Vance has said the party must change course on the war, while Trump has said he stands by it, leaving the Republican leadership publicly divided over how to respond to the result.