Republican allies distance themselves from Iran war after midterm defeat
Vice President JD Vance and Senator Ted Cruz have criticised the conflict following Democrats winning control of the US Congress.
Vice President JD Vance blamed the war on Iran for the Republican Party's defeat in Tuesday's midterm elections, according to Al Jazeera. The elections resulted in Democrats winning control of both chambers of the United States Congress.
Vance, a likely 2028 presidential candidate, wrote on X on Wednesday that the war was the reason for the loss. He questioned if the conflict was worth losing the Senate for the next six years. President Donald Trump told reporters at the White House on Wednesday that Vance's assessment was "largely true", citing higher fuel prices caused by the war.
Senator Ted Cruz also criticised the conflict on his podcast and X, stating the war should have been "brief, decisive, and over". He said the war had "dragged on too long" and opposed a June memorandum of understanding that included a $300bn fund to help rebuild post-war Iran.
President Trump maintained that he had no regrets about launching the war alongside Israel in February, telling The Wall Street Journal he did the right thing. He insisted the war was necessary to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon.
The US decision to attack Iran led to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, causing a global fuel crisis that has cost US taxpayers an estimated $47bn. Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer said on Wednesday that the war must end, noting that Congress holds the power of the purse.
