Vance blames Iran War for Republican midterm losses

Vice President JD Vance blamed Republicans' sweeping midterm losses on the Iran War on Wednesday, saying the conflict drove voters to Democrats. President Donald Trump said he believes the war was worth losing the Senate. Vance wrote on X that "the reason we lost is the war," downplaying economic factors in the Democratic wins that gave them House and Senate majorities. Trump called Vance's take "largely true," citing short-term gasoline price increases, but said he'd pursue the war again to prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons. The U.S. and Israel jointly launched the war in February, with costs estimated at $47.1 billion. Vance, initially a war critic tasked with negotiations, proposed renewed peace talks last week as the Middle East remains uneasy following an expired 60-day deal.