Vice President JD Vance has broken ranks with President Donald Trump’s public defense of the strike on Iran, arguing instead that the military conflict is the real reason Republicans suffered sweeping losses in this week’s midterm elections.
In a lengthy statement, Vance said internal data showed Republican voters actually turned out in solid numbers nationwide—in some states even stronger than in 2024. The problem, he explained, wasn’t a lack of enthusiasm but defection: many people who backed the Trump-Vance ticket two years ago cast their ballots for Democrats this time. He cited a pollster’s research showing that voters who abandoned the party pointed to four main grievances: the war in Iran, the rising cost of living, a desire for an “America First” foreign policy, and frustration over the administration’s relationship with Israel.
Vance pushed back preemptively against what he predicted would be a wave of political spin in the coming months, particularly any argument that granting immigration amnesty could fix the party’s fortunes. He insisted the true cause of the defeat is the war itself, noting that Trump had already acknowledged as much. He also praised a Fox News host, Rachel Campos-Duffy, for having called for a diplomatic solution before the vote, saying her instincts proved politically sound despite the backlash she faced.
To read Vance’s full remarks and Reforma’s original report, follow the link above.
Source: Culpa Vance a guerra en Irán de derrota republicana (Reforma).
Image: dbking from Washington, DC.