Vance Blames Iran War for Midterm Defeat, Splitting From Trump

The U.S. midterm elections delivered a "blue wave," serving as a severe rebuke of President Trump's first-term performance and a major test for the Republican Party's post-Trump era in 2028. Vice President Vance, the leading GOP contender for the next presidential nomination, blamed the Iran war for the defeat in a social media post on Wednesday. Vance said Republican voters turned out but many 2024 supporters voted for Democrats, citing demands to end the war, focus on inflation, and adjust relations with Israel. Trump acknowledged Vance's feelings but said he would still choose the war to prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons. The Wall Street Journal reported Vance's statement followed weeks of internal debate, with the White House having agreed in September not to publicize military strikes to avoid election fallout. The defeat has intensified divisions over the war, while Florida Governor DeSantis and Secretary of State Rubio are positioning for 2028.