Vance blames Iran war for Republican midterm losses

Vice President JD Vance said Wednesday that the war against Iran caused the Republican Party's loss in the US midterm elections, widely viewed as a rebuke of Donald Trump's presidency. The statement signals Vance seeks to distance himself from the unpopular conflict ahead of a possible 2028 presidential run. In a post on X, Vance said the war was the "real reason" for the defeat, noting Trump himself acknowledged it. He challenged critics to argue the conflict was worth losing Senate control for six years, while adding he had reportedly been skeptical of the war launched in February. Trump made a similar statement Tuesday to the Wall Street Journal, calling Iran "a piece of it" but expressing no regrets, saying he would "do it again." Vance was previously the administration's public face for deal-making efforts with Tehran.