Donald Trump acknowledged that the war in Iran contributed to the Republicans’ defeat in the midterm elections, but maintained that weak candidates were the main reason for the losses.
“People agree with what I’m doing on Iran, but they probably weren’t willing to deal with the short-term consequence of paying more for gasoline,” Trump said during a phone interview with Fox News.
“You know, I understand that. I don’t agree with it, and I would say to people, it’s a short-term problem but for long-term gain.”
The president insisted that his absence from the ballot was the decisive factor, despite repeatedly urging supporters to treat the election as if he were running—including during an appearance on Fox the night before voting.
“I wasn’t on the ballot, and if I was, we would have won in a landslide,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
Trump responded after a string of damaging results indicated that Democrats were on course to take both the House and Senate, including races in states where he had held rallies to support Republican candidates.
Asked whether he planned to make changes to his Cabinet, Trump told Fox: “I don’t think so. It had nothing to do with my Cabinet … It’s just a point in time. There was a mood in the air, I guess.”
Trump said presidents throughout history had been punished in midterm elections and argued that he was no exception. Still, he said the enthusiastic reception at rallies around the country had left him confident.
“I’m a little bit surprised. I thought they’d do better. We had tremendous rallies,” Trump added.
Donald Trump takes the stage during a campaign rally at the Majestic Valley Arena in Kalispell, Montana, on October 14
A White House official described the atmosphere as “defiant” and echoed Trump’s assessment that the results did not represent a referendum on his administration.
“Candidate quality matters, and President Trump did a better job promoting many of the candidates on the ballot than the candidates did themselves,” the official said.
“Also, anyone who voted Democrat today is going to have a serious case of buyers’ remorse when gas prices come down quickly after the Iran conflict is resolved, while they are still stuck with a list of liberal extremist Democrats.
“And a final note here: regardless of how today plays out, President Trump’s resolve to stop the Radical Left is only going to become stronger. Buckle up.”
The atmosphere at the White House midterm watch party deteriorated rapidly as Republicans suffered a series of losses.
A White House official told Our News Outlet that staff members became “defiant” as the evening progressed, saying the president was more determined than ever to confront the threats a Democratic majority in Congress could pose to his administration.
Those challenges are expected to include a possible third impeachment effort and aggressive investigations into Trump and members of his family.
“President Trump’s resolve to stop the Radical Left is only going to become stronger,” the official said. “Buckle up.”
Trump did not speak to reporters on Tuesday as the election results came in.
A second White House official said the party was “still going strong,” even as several Cabinet officials and staff members departed the event early.
Trump officials initially breathed a sigh of relief when leading Republican candidates secured narrow victories in Florida, providing an early boost to the party’s hopes.
Those hopes faded after major Republican losses in Texas.
Incumbent Governor Greg Abbott and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, who was running for the Senate, suffered heavy defeats.
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Trump then turned to Truth Social to criticize Abbott, accusing him of becoming a “RINO”—a Republican in name only.
“If Greg Abbott, the Governor of Texas, hadn’t become a RINO in the last six months of his Political Life, he wouldn’t have lost,” Trump wrote.
“He went back to his original formula, and it wasn’t pretty!”
Trump removes his hat after hosting an event at the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool
White House officials blamed Republican candidates for the party’s heavy losses despite Trump’s efforts to bring his supporters to the polls
Trump had endorsed Republican candidates in several key contests, including in South Carolina, where Darline, the sister of the late Senator Lindsey Graham, lost her bid for his Senate seat.
Democrat Annie Andrews, a pediatrician, defeated Graham to become the first Democrat to win a Senate seat in South Carolina since 1998.
Her victory came despite Trump making three recent visits to the state to support her campaign. Andrews led even in traditionally Republican areas, including Greenville County.
In neighboring North Carolina, former Democratic Governor Roy Cooper defeated Michael Whatley, the former Republican National Committee chairman, for the seat being vacated by retiring Republican Senator Thom Tillis.
The result marked the first Democratic Senate victory in North Carolina since 2008 and handed another Republican-held seat to the opposition.
Republicans also failed to unseat Georgia Senator Jon Ossoff, who defeated Trump-backed Congressman Mike Collins to win a second term.
Ossoff was the only incumbent Democratic senator defending a seat in a state Trump carried in 2024, making his victory a significant missed opportunity for Republicans.
Republican candidate Michael Whatley also lost his Senate bid in North Carolina.
The area outside the White House remained quiet as officials monitored the election returns behind closed doors
White House officials criticized Republican candidates who failed to mobilize Trump’s base
Trump spent much of Tuesday urging voters to back Republican candidates, but his appeals failed to produce the turnout the party needed.
Another Trump adviser told Our News Outlet that Republicans had not managed to assemble the same coalition that carried him to victory in 2024.
“Republicans have had ten years to figure out how to draw those low-propensity Trump voters to the polls. If they can’t get it done, they deserved to lose.”
Over the final 32 days of the campaign, Trump held 30 events across 20 states on behalf of Republican candidates. His MAGA Inc. PAC spent more than $370 million supporting Republicans.
One Trump insider described the results as disappointing but said the president had long expressed doubts that Republican majorities could withstand the midterms.
The White House legal team has been preparing for a wave of investigations by newly empowered Democrats during the next congressional term.
“I fully expect the president to dig in, and fight, fight, fight,” the insider said. “He’s been through this before.”
