Vance blames Iran war for Republican election defeat, distances himself from Trump

US Vice President JD Vance distanced himself from President Donald Trump’s war on Iran on Wednesday, questioning its worth and ​blaming it entirely for a stinging electoral rebuke by voters ‌that delivered control of Congress to Democrats.

Vance’s extraordinary remarks in a post on X could further complicate Trump’s deliberations as he weighs whether to restart major combat operations ​against Iran, a step US officials have told Reuters is still under consideration.

They ​also raise questions about the political fortunes of senior Pentagon ⁠officials, most notably Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth. Hegseth is already deeply unpopular ​in Congress, where some lawmakers are expected to seek his impeachment.

“The reason ​we lost is the war,” Vance said on X.

“If you’d like to argue it was worth it, that losing the Senate for the next 6 years was worth it, ​then do so.”

Vance also said an earlier recommendation to end the war ​was “sound advice.”

Democrats secured control of both the Senate and House of Representatives on Tuesday, scoring sweeping ‌victories ⁠in Republican strongholds for the first time in generations.

Voters in conservative bastions who had propelled the president to his second term in office just two years ago swung dramatically toward Democrats, fueled by deep frustration over the ​war with Iran, anxiety ​over the high ⁠cost of living and anger at Trump’s stewardship of the country.

Vance sought to play down any difference of ​opinion with Trump, saying the president had also acknowledged ​that the ⁠Iran war cost Republicans the midterm elections on Tuesday. But Trump’s comments were far more measured, saying the Iran war was only one of multiple reasons.

“I ⁠did ​the right thing,” Trump told the Wall Street ​Journal. “I would have done it again.”