An admission, with a condition
President Donald Trump told reporters at the White House on Wednesday that the eight-month war with Iran hurt Republicans in the midterm elections, an acknowledgment that followed a similar post from Vice President JD Vance. Trump said he would make the same decision again.
"The Iran thing we had to do, and we continue to do it," he said. He argued that military action was the only way to stop Tehran from obtaining a nuclear weapon, and said he had expected oil prices to rise further than they did.
Hegseth stays, for now
Trump said he was not considering replacing Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who has faced criticism over the conduct of the war. "I think he's doing a very good job," the president said, rejecting reports that aides had discussed a change.
A White House official told Fox News that the result "would have looked very different without the Iran war" and predicted that accountability would play out in the lame-duck session. Representative Thomas Massie has said he will force a vote on an impeachment resolution against Hegseth if he remains in office.
Vetoes and investigations ahead
Democrats won control of both chambers. NBC News projects at least 258 House seats and a Senate majority of at least 54, their largest House margin in nearly two decades. Senator Chuck Schumer said the party's priorities are the cost of living and ending the war, and that Democrats would investigate the administration and take it to court when they believe it has broken the law.
Trump responded with a threat to veto legislation he considers unacceptable and pointed to his powers as commander in chief. He also posted an image of a red cap reading "VETO".
With majorities large enough to pass bills but not large enough to override vetoes without Republican support, the next two years are likely to be shaped by subpoenas, court fights and spending battles rather than new laws. Republicans, meanwhile, are arguing over what went wrong, with some pointing to gasoline prices and others to the president's focus on cultural fights.