Trump Admits Iran War Was Cause of Midterm Defeat

U.S. President Donald Trump acknowledged on the 4th (local time) that the Iran war was the cause of the midterm election defeat, while saying he would not consider replacing Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. With no public events scheduled that day, President Trump appeared in the afternoon at the construction site of the new White House ballroom. In a Q&A with reporters, he agreed with Vice President JD Vance's remark that the Iran war caused the defeat, saying "largely true — (the war) pushed up gas prices a little in the short term," but added, "if we had to go to war again, we would do it again," reasserting the legitimacy of the war on the grounds of preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons and distancing himself from accountability claims.

He drew the line on whether he would review replacing Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who led the Iran war. President Trump said flatly, "No. He's doing a great job." With the Democratic Party targeting Hegseth as the first Cabinet member in its sights, Trump had also stated the previous day that no Cabinet changes would be made.

He also pushed back on the possibility of impeachment by the Democratic Party, which now controls both the House and Senate. President Trump emphasized that he has done nothing to warrant impeachment, saying, "If they pursue impeachment, the Democratic Party will be ruined." Within the Democratic Party, there are calls to pursue impeachment over various allegations of misconduct, but there is also considerable caution, with concerns that doing so could rally his base.