Trump's VP says the Iran war cost them the midterms
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Vice President Vance campaigns for Republican congressional candidate Anthony Constantino in Rome, N.Y., on Nov. 2, ahead of the midterm elections. Photo: Tom Brenner/Getty Images
The Iran war was the reason for the Democrats' blue tsunami that stunned Washington, Vice President Vance said in an X post Wednesday morning.
Why it matters: The VP offered a surprisingly blunt assessment of why the GOP got crushed Tuesday night — and started to put at least a little daylight between himself and President Trump as the 2028 cycle begins.
- Vance's comments come hours after Trump admitted the Iran war partly played a role in pushing Democrats over the edge.
- Trump's son Donald Jr was quick to apparently endorse Vance's message.
Driving the news: "The reason we lost is the war. The president himself said so last night," Vance wrote on X.
- "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."
- Vance's comments align with Trump, who told the Wall Street Journal: "Iran was a piece of it," though he did not say he regrets the war.
What they're saying: Vance wrote on X that the "Democrat blowout" came despite optimism from within the White House about turnout and people "showing up."
- But, Vance said, "many people who voted for Trump/Vance in 2024 voted for Democrats in 2026" instead.
- The White House and vice president's office did not immediately respond to requests for comments Wednesday morning.
Zoom in: Vance said Trump 2024 voters were angry with the administration and chose to embrace Dems.
- The GOP has to do four things to bring them back, he said: End the Iran war, focus on inflation, "put America First," and "change our relationship to Israel."
- "To the people who are just pissed at the results, you should be. Let's take that anger and get back to the work of saving our country," Vance wrote.
Yes, but: Voters had other grievances in the election Tuesday night. Cost of living and government corruption were the two top issues in this year's election, per exit polls from AP.
- Gas prices and grocery costs have skyrocketed amid the Iran war and the president's tariff policies. Trump was also labeled "corrupt" and "dangerous" by majorities of registered voters in a poll prior to the election.
The bottom line: Vance's candid response comes ahead of a potential 2028 presidential run.
- The vice president is already being watched by the pre-Trump Republican faction that never embraced Trump's takeover of the party, which might require him to distance himself from the president's policies.
Editor's note: This story has been updated with new detail throughout.
