Vance Blames Iran War and Israel Policy for GOP Midterm Losses

Vice President JD Vance posted on X on Wednesday that the Iran war and the United States' relationship with Israel drove Republican voters away during the midterm elections held Tuesday.

Democrats captured control of both the House and the Senate in the November 3 vote, a result widely viewed as a rejection of President Donald Trump's policies. Vance attributed the shift to a breakdown in trust among voters who had previously supported the Trump-Vance ticket.

In a lengthy post, Vance quoted poll data indicating that the primary reasons former Republican voters left the party were demands to end the Iran war, address inflation, prioritize American interests, and modify the alliance with Israel. He noted that a conservative media figure had advised the administration to resolve the conflict diplomatically, suggesting her counsel was sound.

Vance challenged those who supported the military action to justify the political cost. "If you’d like to argue it was worth it, that losing the Senate for the next six years was worth it, then do so. Argue it was a worthwhile cost to pay. Agree or disagree, that’s at least honest," he wrote. He added that the president acknowledged the war as a factor in the defeat.

Trump responded to Vance's assessment on Wednesday while touring a construction site outside the White House. The president stated that rising gasoline prices short-term influenced the results but maintained he would launch the conflict again to prevent Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon. He defended Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, a key advocate for military action, saying he was doing a very good job.

Trump disputed previous claims that the war would end immediately after the midterms. He referenced the June 2025 strikes known as Midnight Hammer, arguing that the nuclear program was destroyed. A second major offensive against Iran began in February 2026 alongside Israel. "The war will end whenever I want it to. But it’s got to be done right," Trump said.

President Isaac Herzog of Israel addressed the remarks on Wednesday, stating that Israel respects both the American president and vice president. He described the sentiments in the US as part of the current political air and noted that Israel strives to remain bipartisan. Vance had previously criticized elements of the Israeli government for trying to influence American public opinion to prolong the war.