JD Vance has turned on Donald Trump’s Iran war, saying it is the reason for the Republican disaster in the midterm elections, as he weighs his own political future and a possible run for president
United States Vice President JD Vance has turned on Donald Trump’s Iran war, blaming it for the disaster in the midterm elections.
In a nationwide romp, Democrats ousted Republicans from coast to coast, with many surprising places in between, as voters rejected the president’s party for the promise of something different for the country.
And Vance has been quick to blame the war in Iran as he weighs his political future and a possible run for president in 2028.
Vance listed all the other reasons the party lost in an X post – and appealed to Republican voters to give the party another chance.
“The reason we lost is the war. The president himself said so last night,” Vance said.
His message was that backers of the Iran war should take responsibility for the defeat, with Trump having championed the conflict.
“If you’d like to argue it was worth it, that losing the Senate for the next 6 years was worth it, then do so. Argue it was a worthwhile cost to pay. Agree or disagree, that’s at least honest,” he said.
The results have set up a divided government, with Congress poised to reassert itself as a coequal branch ready to challenge Trump and reverse course after two years of unified Republican control.
And Trump has been consulting with advisers on whether Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth should be sacked, stated CBS News sources. While it has also been reported that blame is expected to land on Adm Brad Cooper, head of US Central Command, and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen Dan Caine, who both played big roles in guidance on the Iran war.
The Iran war has led to an increase in inflation globally and it appears that rising prices as well as the state of the democracy were the main reasons for the poor showing by the Republicans.
Democrats are promising a 100-day agenda starting with efforts to lower the costs of gas, groceries and other goods, as well as bills to reverse cuts to the Affordable Care Act and Medicaid healthcare programmes. They’re also ready to launch a robust oversight agenda to, as House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries says, “hold the crooks accountable.”
Impeachment — of the president or his Cabinet members — is also an option. The top Democrat on the House Oversight Committee, Rep Robert Garcia of California, issued a one-sentence warning: “Lawyer up.”
Sen Ron Wyden, the top Democrat on the Senate Finance Committee, issued his own one-word missive: “Subpoenas.” Democrats will be under pressure to quickly show that they have solutions for the high gas and grocery prices, the war in Iran and concerns about the direction of the country.
For Jeffries and his leadership team, it will be their first time in the majority, managing a class of newcomers including a handful of far-left democratic socialists.
With the majority in the 435-member House well past the 218 needed and the Senate Democrats holding at least 54 of 100 seats in that chamber, Jeffries and Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer will have room to manoeuvre.