Vance blames Iran war and Israel policy for GOP midterm defeat
The vice president cited a poll showing Trump voters left the party over cost of living and the conflict with Tehran.
By Talia Bennett ·
Vice President JD Vance pointed to the war in Iran and the United States' relationship with Israel as the primary causes for the Republican Party's losses in the midterm elections. Democrats secured control of both the House and the Senate on Tuesday, a result viewed as a direct rebuke of President Donald Trump's administration. Vance published a detailed explanation on X on Wednesday, arguing that former Trump supporters crossed the aisle to vote Democratic.
Vance quoted a pollster who surveyed voters who had previously supported the Republican ticket. According to Vance, those voters identified four main reasons for their defection. The top response was a desire to end the war with Iran. The second was a focus on the cost of living and inflation. The third was a call to put America first. The fourth was a demand to change the American relationship with Israel.
The vice president also referenced advice from a conservative television personality who urged a diplomatic resolution to the Iran conflict. Vance suggested that her political counsel was sound, implicitly criticizing those who pushed for further military action. He noted that reports indicated Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was among those advocating for another round of conflict. Vance challenged his critics to argue that losing the Senate for six years was a worthwhile cost to pay for that strategy.
President Trump addressed the election results late Tuesday and on Wednesday. He acknowledged that spiking gas prices caused by the war contributed to the Republican losses. Trump told reporters at a construction site outside the White House that he had no issue with Vance's assessment. He stated that the war drove gasoline prices up in the short term but defended the decision to launch the conflict as the only long term answer to prevent Iran from possessing a nuclear weapon.
Trump said he would have done nothing differently if given the chance. He ruled out firing Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, a strong supporter of military action against Iran. Trump claimed that Hegseth is doing a very good job. When asked about previous statements suggesting the war would end immediately after the midterms, Trump said he had never made such a claim. He pointed to the June 2025 strikes known as Midnight Hammer, which he said obliterated Iran's nuclear program.
The current conflict began with a major military offensive launched by the United States and Israel in February 2026. The stated goal was to destroy Iran's nuclear program again. Trump said the war will end whenever he wants it to, provided it is done right. He emphasized that he could not let Iran have a nuclear weapon. Trump's son, Donald Jr., retweeted Vance's post on X and wrote that every word of the assessment was completely accurate.
Israel's President Isaac Herzog responded to the comments on Wednesday. He stated that Israel has great respect for the American president and vice president. Herzog said these sentiments are in the air in the United States, which he described as a great friend and ally. He added that Israel has always made every effort to be bipartisan in its dealings with the American political system.
Vance has maintained a cooler approach to Israel than Trump. Reports indicate Vance opposed the war before the US and Israel launched it on February 28. Israel has not participated in strikes on Iran since April. In June, Vance criticized members of the Israeli government for opposing Trump's efforts to resolve the war. In July, he said elements of the Israeli government tried to influence American sentiment to derail negotiations. Vance said in July that some people in the Israeli system were manipulating American public opinion to keep the war going indefinitely.
In a recent interview, Vance stated that Washington cannot let its Middle East policies be subservient to those of Israel. He argued that the US must place its own interests first. Vance is considered a likely contender for the White House in 2028. Trump offered a strong endorsement of Netanyahu ahead of Israel's national election last month. Vance notably declined to offer a similar endorsement. Vance said the US must change its relationship with Israel based on the feedback from voters.
