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Trump says Iran war was worth it despite election losses

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Ongoing: US mid-terms Hot

US President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that the war was needed to stop Tehran getting a nuclear weapon. He admitted it contributed to Republican losses in the midterm elections, which cost his party control of Congress.

Trump said he would have done nothing different on the war. He also claimed Republicans would have won if he had been on the ballot.

Vice-president JD Vance was reported to have said the war was the reason Republicans lost. Reports said the war caused a spike in fuel prices, which many saw as a strong factor in big Democratic gains.

Key facts

Who
Donald Trump (US President); JD Vance (Vice-president); Steve Holland
What
Trump said on Wednesday that the Iran war was worth it to stop Tehran from having a nuclear weapon, even as he acknowledged the war contributed to Republican losses in the US midterm elections. He said he would have done nothing different on the war and that Republicans would have won if he had been on the ballot.
When
4 November 2026
Where
Iran, United States
Status
Reported

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The Senate majority came after projected upsets, including James Talarico beating Republican Ken Paxton in Texas. Iranian officials said US voters had rejected the war, while Tehran stayed on high alert for possible new US strikes.

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