Trump blames war and gasoline prices for midterm defeat, says he would attack Iran again

The Iran war, higher gasoline prices and voters’ dislike of some Republican candidates contributed to the party’s midterm defeat, President Donald Trump said. He nevertheless defended the military action, saying he would make the same decision again to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon.

In a 60 Minutes interview on November 9, Trump identified opposition to the war and rising gasoline costs as leading reasons for the Republican losses. He also argued that support for him had failed to translate into votes for the candidates he backed.

Trump said his rallies drew large crowds, but some supporters stayed home because they disliked the candidates. He estimated that he held 30 rallies in about 28 days and maintained that the outcome would have been substantially different had he been on the ballot.

He said gasoline prices in Iowa had risen from $1.85 a gallon to $3.50–$4. Trump argued that voters blamed the war for the increase, while opposition to the conflict itself and negative views of Israel also weighed on the election.

Asked whether he would order the attack on Iran again, Trump answered with an “emphatic yes,” saying Iran could not be allowed to acquire a nuclear weapon. He acknowledged that the decision might carry immediate political costs but argued that it would be judged favorably over time.

Trump said he saw no reason to escalate the war. He said Iranian nuclear sites remained under surveillance and that further military action was available if needed, although he saw no immediate need for it. He also asserted that Iran wanted an agreement and that negotiations would eventually produce one.

On dissatisfaction with the economy, Trump blamed a failure to communicate what he described as historically strong employment and stock market results. He criticized media coverage of his economic record and said voters would feel the effects of trillions of dollars in factory construction and other investment within two to four months.

Despite the political fallout, Trump maintained that preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon justified his decision. He said he had to pursue what was right for the country and reiterated his defense of the military action.