Republicans blame Trump after midterm losses as 2028 hopefuls jockey for position

Republicans are blaming President Donald Trump after suffering major losses in Tuesday's midterm elections, with Vice President JD Vance and other 2028 hopefuls already positioning themselves for the next presidential race. Vance distanced himself from Trump and the Iran war, citing the conflict, cost of living and US-Israel ties as reasons for the party's defeat. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and Senator Ted Cruz also criticized the administration's policies while promoting their own visions for the party's future. Democrats will control at least 54 Senate seats and roughly 258 House seats, with Republicans losing races in conservative states like Texas and South Carolina. Speaker Mike Johnson plans to step down, and Trump dismissed calls for major staff changes despite the electoral setback.