Trump Acknowledges Republican Defeat: It's Not a Setback for Me
Trump acknowledged his party's defeat in the midterm elections, stating that the war with Iran contributed to the loss.
Translated by Qiyas from النهار — Original source
Washington, Agencies: U.S. President Donald Trump acknowledged his party’s defeat in the midterm elections, admitting that the conflict with Iran contributed to the Republicans’ crushing loss, after Democrats seized control of both the Senate and the House of Representatives, dealing a significant blow to his legislative agenda. In a phone interview with Fox News, Trump said, “I think it’s partly due to Iran, but at the same time, people recognize the importance of what I did regarding Iran.” He suggested that Americans may not have been prepared for the short-term consequences of rising gasoline prices, adding that the mission in Iran is not yet complete, “and we may or may not proceed further.”
Trump congratulated the Democrats, stating he looks forward to working with them “for the good of our country,” while acknowledging that they had done a good job. He said, “I will certainly accept all the results of these elections,” but emphasized that despite their control of Congress, the Democrats are not in a position to impose their will. He predicted they would send him legislation he described as “crazy,” vowing to veto it. Trump also placed part of the blame for the losses on Fox News itself, accusing the network of continuing to host Democratic opponents. He remarked, “I do not consider the midterm election results a personal setback.” He anticipated “political gridlock” in Washington.
In remarks made yesterday during a live phone call with Politico reporter Dasha Burns, who covered the announced election results, Trump said Republicans would have won “very easily” if his name had been on the ballots. The U.S. president noted that some Republican candidates in the midterms failed to gain voter support due to their own shortcomings. Trump told reporters from The Wall Street Journal, “Some of them had many flaws, and it was clear they were not acceptable to voters.” He affirmed that members of his party “could have been better,” adding, “I tried to help them.”
Meanwhile, Trump urged the Republican Party to select its presidential candidate for the 2028 election. He stated that it is time for the Republican Party to begin identifying its nominee for the 2028 presidential race, noting that the party includes “an amazing group of candidates,” although he declined to name specific individuals at this stage.
