US President Donald Trump has blamed the Iran war, rising petrol prices and unpopular candidates for Republican losses in the midterm elections. He defended the military action and said he had no plans to escalate the conflict.
In an interview with Ross Douthat on CBS News’ 60 Minutes, Trump acknowledged that voters disliked the war and its impact on fuel prices. He further maintained that preventing Iran from developing nuclear weapons justified the military action.
“They didn’t like the war. They didn’t like the fact that gasoline went up,” Trump said.
The US President distanced himself from the election results, noting that he was not on the ballot.
Douthat questioned this argument and cited defeats suffered by candidates Trump had endorsed in traditionally Republican states.
Trump said he had held around 30 rallies in 28 days. He suggested that some supporters stayed home or rejected the candidates.
Discussing the economy, Trump cited employment figures, stock market gains and factory investments. He further blamed poor messaging and media coverage for voters’ dissatisfaction with economic conditions.
The US President predicted that Americans would see improvements in the coming months.
Trump broadly agreed with Vice President JD Vance’s assessment that the Iran war contributed to the Republican losses. He further insisted that the military action was necessary.
Asked whether he planned to escalate the conflict, Trump said he was not seeking further military action. He claimed Iran had approached a deal before the elections and predicted an agreement, but offered no timeline.
The interview, however, covered the Strait of Hormuz and US military involvement. Trump said other countries protected by Washington would reimburse its war costs.
Republicans lost their majorities in both chambers of Congress, marking a setback for Trump’s administration.
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