Trump Blames Ballot Absence, Iran War, Gas Prices for Midterm Rout

President Donald Trump blamed his absence from the ballot, the Iran war, and rising gasoline prices for Republicans' crushing midterm losses, in his first interview since the election. He also addressed Vice President J.D. Vance's own analysis of the defeat. Trump said he campaigned hard but voters disliked the candidates, and cited public anger over the war and fuel costs. He agreed with Vance's four reasons for the loss—ending the war, inflation, America First, and Israel—but wished Vance had defended the Iran strike, which Trump called historically correct. Trump dismissed poor economic polling as a messaging failure, citing record stock market highs. He declined to commit to endorsing a 2028 nominee, praising a "tremendous bench" including Marco Rubio, and dismissed impeachment talk, calling his term the best in history.