Vice President JD Vance blamed the war with Iran for Republicans’ defeat in the midterm elections, publicly breaking with President Trump’s defense of the decision to attack. In a post of more than 600 words, Vance also criticized the administration’s agenda and messaging, in what appeared to be an effort to distinguish himself from the president.
“The reason we lost is the war,” Vance wrote, adding that an honest debate should consider whether the conflict was worth the political cost. Trump told The New York Times on Tuesday that he had no regrets about the war, though he acknowledged that voters were unhappy with oil prices. He described the decision as wise for the future of the country and the world.
Vance said voters who had supported him and Trump turned out but chose Democratic candidates. He cited a Republican pollster’s assessment that voters’ main concerns were ending the war, addressing inflation, putting America first and changing the country’s relationship with Israel.
Those points put Vance at odds with Trump, who has defended the war, dismissed affordability concerns as a “hoax” and aligned himself closely with Israel and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Trump had not immediately responded to Vance’s public criticism.
Vance has been widely viewed as a potential successor to Trump and the heir to the Make America Great Again movement. Following the election results, his post indicated that he may be willing to distance himself from the president as he weighs his own political future.
Sources: The New York Times Politics.