Washington: US President Donald Trump has acknowledged that the conflict with Iran contributed to Republican setbacks in Tuesday’s elections, citing higher petrol prices as one of the factors affecting the party’s performance. However, he defended his decision to launch military action, saying he would make the same choice again to prevent Tehran from developing nuclear weapons.
Speaking to reporters on Wednesday during an event marking progress on the construction of the White House ballroom, Trump was asked whether the war had influenced the election results.
“I think it’s largely true,” he said, conceding that the conflict had pushed petrol prices higher in the short term.
Despite recognising the political consequences, the President maintained that the military operation was necessary for US national security.
“If I had it to do again, I’d have to do it again,” Trump said, reiterating that Iran must not be allowed to acquire nuclear weapons.
When questioned about whether the military campaign had justified its political cost, he responded affirmatively and said he had anticipated a considerably larger increase in international oil prices than what actually occurred.
Trump described the operation as a strategic necessity rather than a decision influenced by domestic political considerations.
Defending the results of the military campaign, he claimed that US strikes had significantly weakened Iran’s military infrastructure, including its naval forces, air capabilities and air defence systems.
He also asserted that oil transportation through the strategically important Strait of Hormuz had recovered, claiming that shipments through the waterway were now higher than before the conflict. However, he did not provide figures to substantiate the statement.
The President also addressed Vice-President JD Vance’s interpretation of the election outcome. Asked about a lengthy social media post connecting the Republican performance with the Iran conflict, Trump said he had anticipated that the war would influence the results.
“I knew the war was going to impact it,” he said.
Trump indicated that he was familiar with Vance’s assessment and supported the views expressed in the post, describing it as “good.”
Although he acknowledged the electoral consequences of the conflict, the President ruled out changing his position on preventing Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons.
On the question of when the fighting could end, Trump said the timing would depend on securing an acceptable outcome.
“It’s got to be done right,” he said, once again stressing that Iran should not possess a nuclear weapon.
The President also rejected suggestions that his campaign appearances had failed to generate sufficient support for Republican candidates.
Asked whether he regretted holding around 30 rallies during the campaign, Trump responded negatively. He argued that the outcome would have been different if he himself had been contesting the election.
“If I were on the ballot, we would have won,” he said, referring to the large crowds that attended his political rallies.
Trump acknowledged that the enthusiasm surrounding his personal campaign did not necessarily translate into votes for other Republican candidates.
“We weren’t able to transfer the love to candidates,” he added.
The President also indicated that he remained open to working with Democrats following the election, although he expressed reservations about proposals he considered damaging.
He said Democratic representatives had already approached his administration to discuss various issues. At the same time, he reminded them that he retained the authority to veto legislation he opposed.
Trump also dismissed concerns about the possibility of impeachment proceedings, arguing that Democrats could face political consequences if they pursued such action without sufficient grounds.
His remarks highlighted the political implications of the Iran conflict for the Republican Party while making clear that the election setbacks would not alter his stated approach towards Tehran.
The President’s comments also brought attention to the connection between foreign policy decisions, energy prices and domestic electoral outcomes, particularly as rising petrol costs remain an important concern for American households.