Trump says Iran war largely to blame for Republican midterm losses
Trump said fuel prices from the conflict hurt his party, but that he would make the same decision again.
Key facts
Story- Trump said the Iran war was largely responsible for Republican midterm losses, citing higher gasoline prices.
- Democrats won both the House and Senate in the midterm elections, sources say.
- Trump said he would order the strikes on Iran again if he had to.
President Donald Trump said the war in Iran was largely responsible for Republican setbacks in the midterm elections. Democrats won both the House and the Senate in what was described as a blowout for Republicans.
Trump said that the war had pushed up fuel prices, which in turn hurt his party. "I think it's largely true because it drove the gasoline [prices] up a little bit in the short term," he said when asked about the war as a factor.
Even so, Trump did not back away from the decision. "At the same time, if I had to do it again... I will have to do it again," he said, apparently referring to strikes on Iran.
The price increases were the main link Trump drew between the conflict and the vote. He described the effect as short term. How much gasoline prices rose and how long they stayed high have not been stated.
Trump's comments were a rare admission that the conflict had a cost for his party. He did not accept that the war itself was a mistake, and he stood by the strikes.
What happens next is not yet known. Whether the White House or Republican leaders plan further action on Iran or on fuel prices has not been said.
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