WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump acknowledged on Thursday that the recent war with Iran played a significant role in the Republican Party's crushing defeat in the midterm elections, while still defending the conflict as a necessary strategic move to prevent Tehran from acquiring nuclear weapons.

Speaking to reporters at the White House construction site for a new state dining room—his first public appearance following the election results—Trump was asked whether he agreed with Vice President JD Vance's assessment that the war had cost Republicans control of Congress.

"I think that's largely correct," Trump said. "[The war] pushed gas prices up a little bit for a short period of time. Probably true."

However, Trump doubled down on his decision to launch the military campaign, insisting it was an unavoidable choice for national security. "At the same time, if we had to do it again, we would have to do it again because long-term, that's the only answer. You can't let Iran have a nuclear weapon," he stated. When asked if he planned to replace Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, a prominent hawk on Iran, Trump dismissed the idea, saying, "No, he's doing a good job."

The President's comments come as the Republican Party faces intense internal finger-pointing over the midterms, which left Democrats in control of both the House and Senate. Vice President Vance had earlier taken to social media platform X, writing bluntly: "Everyone knows why we lost. We lost because of the war." Vance added that while some might argue the cost was worth it to neutralize the Iranian threat, losing the Senate for the next six years was a steep price to pay.

Meanwhile, criticism of Trump's influence on the ballot box grew louder from within his own party. Senator Susan Collins of Maine, who lost her bid for a sixth term, sharply remarked that she had been caught in a "Trump tsunami" that swept away many long-serving Republican incumbents. Other party strategists and officials voiced harsher frustrations, with one congressional aide describing the outcome as a "total catastrophe" driven by the administration's actions.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis characterized the election results as an "extinction-level event," pointing to compounding controversies—such as the release of the Jeffrey Epstein files—as major drags on the ticket. In the House, loyalist Speaker Mike Johnson announced he would not seek the minority leader position, sparking an upcoming leadership race among GOP heavyweights including Representatives Jim Jordan and Steve Scalise.

Despite the electoral rout and growing internal dissent, Trump warned Democrats against pursuing impeachment proceedings, cautioning that it would lead to their own "ruin." At the same time, he expressed an openness to working with congressional Democrats moving forward, noting that communication channels had already begun to open.

[ⓒ Global Economic Times. 무단전재-재배포 금지]