No regrets: Trump says Iran war justified despite polls drubbing

What the report says

President Donald Trump acknowledged that the US attack on Iran and the resulting rise in fuel prices may have contributed to the Republican Party’s poor showing in Tuesday’s midterm elections, but he insisted the decision was justified and said he would do it again. In comments to Fox News and The Wall Street Journal, he argued that voters understood his position on Iran even if they were reluctant to accept the short-term cost of higher gasoline prices.

The remarks came after Republicans suffered surprise losses that left Democrats in control of Congress. Trump rejected the idea that his own policies were to blame, saying he was not on the ballot and blaming some defeated candidates for failing to connect with voters. He also criticized one prominent ally, Texas Governor Greg Abbott, in a post on his social media platform.

Al Jazeera reported that Republican strategist James Davis linked the war’s economic effects, including higher energy and diesel costs, to voter frustration over affordability. Trump, however, said he did not plan to reshuffle his cabinet and suggested the election result reflected a broader political mood rather than a failure of his administration.

The president also signaled a combative approach to the new Congress while saying he could still cooperate with Democrats on some issues. The article was published on November 4, 2026.