The Iran war and ties with Israel “obviously” cost the party control of Congress, the vice president says
Many Americans who voted Republican in the 2024 presidential election switched to the Democrats in the midterms over the war on Iran and related grievances, US Vice President J.D. Vance has said.
Republicans lost control of both chambers of Congress on Tuesday, with Democrats winning House and Senate races even in traditional GOP strongholds such as Texas. In a post on X, Vance warned that some would attempt to “gaslight” the public about the outcome, even though “the real reason we lost is obvious to almost everyone.”
The vice president pointed to a survey of voters who had backed Donald Trump and himself in 2024 but supported Democrats in the midterms. Asked what Republicans could do to regain their support, respondents gave four main answers: end the war with Iran, address the cost of living, put America first and “change our relationship with Israel.”
The US and Israel jointly attacked Iran in late February, claiming Tehran was weeks away from acquiring nuclear weapons. The decision contradicted Trump’s campaign promise not to start new wars and was widely criticized as prioritizing Israeli interests over American ones. The unresolved conflict has cost Washington tens of billions of dollars in direct military spending and disrupted global energy markets, driving up prices in the US.
Vance also praised Fox News host Rachel Campos-Duffy, endorsing her advice to end the war with Iran and defending her against critics who had accused her of anti-Semitism.
@JDVance @ImdaVinman Thanks for acknowledging these things. Better late than never. I’ll send you the hat. https://t.co/BhTENTdK57
Pro-Israeli politicians and advocacy groups have wielded substantial influence over US politics for decades. American campaign finance rules allow virtually unlimited spending by certain political organizations, enabling groups such as the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) to promote policies favorable to Israel while operating as domestic political organizations rather than registered foreign lobbying entities.
The establishments of both major US parties have long included prominent supporters of Israel. Former President Joe Biden, for example, has repeatedly and proudly identified himself as a Zionist.
Neither Democratic nor Republican leaders have been willing to embrace the growing public opposition to Israel’s policies, particularly since West Jerusalem launched its devastating military campaign in Gaza in response to the Hamas-led incursion in October 2023.
Kamala Harris’ defeat by Trump in 2024 was partly attributed to her unwillingness to distance herself from Biden’s support for Israel’s military campaign, which many Democratic voters regarded as an ongoing genocide. Trump, meanwhile, mobilized supporters with pledges to prioritize American interests.
Although Trump has acknowledged that the war with Iran was a major factor in the Republican electoral defeat, he has shown no intention of abandoning the conflict and remains open to escalating it.
