- Vance’s comments come hours after Trump admitted that the war in Iran partly played a role in pushing Democrats over the edge.
- Trump’s son, Donald Jr., was quick to seemingly endorse Vance’s message.
Driving the news: “The reason we lost was the war. The president himself said so last night,” Vance wrote on X.
- “If you want to argue that it was worth it, that losing the Senate for the next 6 years was worth it, then do it. Make the case that it was worth paying for. Agree or disagree, that’s at least honest.”
- Vance’s comments match those of Trump, who told the Wall Street Journal, “Iran was part of it,” although he stopped short of saying he regretted the war.
What they say: Trump said at a White House event Wednesday afternoon that he agreed with Vance that the war “made the gas go up a little bit, in the short term.”
- “But at the same time, if I had to do it again, I would do it because in the long term, it’s the only answer,” he said.
- “You have no choice. You must do this. You cannot let Iran have nuclear weapons.”
Zoom: Vance wrote on X that the “Democratic explosion” occurred despite the White House’s optimism about turnout and people “showing up.”
- But, Vance said, “many people who voted for Trump/Vance in 2024 instead voted for Democrats in 2026.”
- The White House and the vice president’s office did not immediately respond to requests for comment Wednesday morning.
Vance said Trump 2024 voters were angry at the administration and chose to support Democrats.
- The Republican Party must do four things to bring them back, he said: end the war in Iran, focus on inflation, “put America first” and “change our relationship with Israel.”
- “To the people who are just upset about the results, you should be. Let’s take that anger and get back to work saving our country,” Vance wrote.
Yes, but: Voters had other grievances in Tuesday night’s election. The cost of living and government corruption were the top two issues in this year’s elections, according to AP exit polls.
The bottom line: Vance’s candid response comes ahead of a potential 2028 presidential campaign.
- The vice president is already under scrutiny from the pre-Trump Republican faction, which never supported Trump’s takeover of the party, which could force him to distance himself from the president’s policies.
Editor’s note: This story has been updated with comments from President Trump.
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