Trump Defends Iran Action, Says Voter Anger Over War Fuelled Election Setback
During a segment on CBS’s “60 Minutes,” former President Donald Trump placed responsibility for the Republican setbacks in the latest midterm elections on voter anger toward the Iran war and the spike in gasoline prices. He reiterated that stopping Iran from developing nuclear weapons was a strategic necessity, even though it hurt the party’s electoral fortunes.
Trump stated, “The war was not popular, and the rise in gas prices after I had kept them low for a long time was also unpopular.” He clarified that he was not personally contesting the elections and that his personal approval ratings did not translate fully into support for Republican candidates in traditional strongholds.
He recalled launching roughly 30 rallies within a 28‑day window, but admitted that some supporters stayed home, others disliked the candidates, and a segment of voters disagreed with his policy agenda. As evidence of his economic record, he pointed to robust employment figures, gains in the stock market, and fresh investments in factories.
When asked why ordinary citizens still felt the pinch of rising living costs, Trump blamed “poor messaging” from his team and accused the media of sidelining positive economic stories. He predicted that forthcoming investment and construction activity would soon be felt by everyday Americans.
Vice‑President JD Vance had earlier pinned the GOP loss on the Iran conflict, a sentiment Trump largely echoed while defending the military strike. “Yes, we can’t allow Iran to get nuclear weapons,” he asserted, noting that the public would eventually see the move as the correct one, despite the short‑term political fallout.
Trump emphasized that he did not intend to widen the conflict, stating, “I don’t want to expand the war; there is no need for that.” He mentioned that Iran was close to a peace agreement before the election, but the Republican defeat gave Tehran renewed optimism. He left open the possibility of future negotiations, though no timeline was provided.
The discussion also touched on the Houthi Strait, with Trump confirming that the maritime passage remained operational, albeit heavily dependent on U.S. naval presence. He claimed that nations protected by America would ultimately shoulder the cost of the war, a statement not verified by external sources.
Overall, Trump framed the midterm losses as a consequence of public discontent with war and fuel costs, while insisting that his foreign‑policy stance was driven by national security imperatives.