Trump admits Iran war hurt Republicans, but says he would do it again
Washington: US President Donald Trump has acknowledged that the war with Iran contributed to the Republican Party’s poor showing in Tuesday’s midterm elections, attributing the setbacks largely to a rise in petrol prices. He nevertheless defended the military campaign, saying he would take the same decision again to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons.
Speaking to reporters on Wednesday at an event marking construction progress on the White House ballroom, Trump was asked whether the conflict had hurt Republicans at the polls.
“I think it’s largely true,” he said, adding that the war had pushed petrol prices higher in the short term.
Despite the political cost, Trump stood by the operation. “If I had it to do again, I’d have to do it again,” he said, arguing that Iran could not be allowed to develop nuclear weapons.
Asked whether the war had been worth its electoral impact, Trump replied, “I do, yeah.” He said he had anticipated a sharper increase in oil prices than ultimately occurred.
Trump framed the campaign as a national security necessity rather than an electoral calculation. He claimed that US operations had badly damaged Iran’s Navy, Air Force and air defences, and said oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz had recovered. He asserted that the waterway was now carrying more oil than before the war, though he offered no supporting figures.
Trump also responded to Vice-President J.D. Vance’s assessment of the election results, after a reporter referred to a lengthy post linking the war to the Republican performance.
“I knew the war was going to impact it,” Trump said. He added that he was aware of Vance’s thinking and approved of the post, calling it “good.”
While Trump did not dispute that the conflict had carried a political price, he rejected any suggestion that the election outcome would change his position on preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon. Asked when the fighting might end, he said the timing depended on achieving the right outcome: “It’s got to be done right.”
Trump dismissed suggestions that his own campaign appearances had fallen short. When asked whether he regretted holding roughly 30 rallies, he said, “No,” and argued that the results would have been different had his name been on the ballot.
“If I were on the ballot, we would have won,” he said, citing the size of the crowds at his events. He added that enthusiasm for him had not fully transferred to Republican candidates: “We weren’t able to transfer the love to candidates.”
On working with Democrats after the vote, Trump said he would probably be able to deal with them unless they adopted what he called a destructive approach. He said Democrats had already made contact to discuss issues, while emphasising his ability to veto legislation he opposed. He also brushed aside concerns about a possible impeachment effort, saying that pursuing one without grounds would damage the Democratic Party.
US midterm elections, held halfway through a president’s four-year term, determine all 435 House seats, about one-third of Senate seats, and numerous state and local offices.
(Inputs from IANS)