People affected by US policy towards Iran, Israel and Ukraine face uncertainty over how far a Democratic-controlled Congress can alter President Donald Trump’s choices abroad, after his party lost both chambers while he retained the power to veto legislation.
Trump and Vice President JD Vance said the war in Iran, and its effect on prices, contributed to Republicans’ worst losses in half a century.
Standing in a ballroom that remains under construction, Trump said he agreed with Vance’s assessment that the war had caused the losses. He said: “Well, I think it's largely true because it drove the gasoline up a little bit short term. And probably that's probably it's true. But at the same time, if I had to do again, I'd have to do it again, because long term it's the only answer. You can't let Iran have a nuclear weapon.”
Vance had made the point more bluntly in a lengthy post on X: “The reason we lost is the war.” He was referring to the conflict with Iran, which he has opposed from the outset.
Democratic candidates flipped Republican-held seats in North Carolina, Ohio, Iowa, Texas, South Carolina and Kansas. Trump had won all seven of Texas, South Carolina, North Carolina, Ohio, Georgia, Iowa and Kansas in 2024.
The result came amid broad concern over living costs. About two-thirds of voters nationally said Trump’s policies had worsened economic conditions in the US, while only about 3 in 10 said they had improved them. About two-thirds said his tariff policies had “hurt” either the national economy or their local economy.
Voters also had widespread concerns about high costs following Trump’s war against Iran and his tariff policy.
A Democratic-led Senate will give the party greater scope to investigate the Trump administration and to stymie nominations to Cabinet posts and lifetime federal judgeships. The final size of that majority remains unsettled because contests in Mississippi and Alaska have yet to be called.
The House result has also opened a leadership contest among Republicans. House Speaker Mike Johnson of Louisiana will not seek to remain his party’s leader next year. House Majority Leader Steve Scalise and Judiciary Committee Chair Jim Jordan have each signalled that they will seek to lead the party in the House.
Trump denied that he would replace Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
In several interviews after the election, Trump said he was absolutely willing to accept the result and work with congressional Democrats. He also said he would use his veto power to block Democratic legislation, arguing that this would require Democrats to negotiate with the White House for a way forward.
His public response also contained a familiar note of defiance. Trump wrote on social media: “I wasn't on the Ballot and if I was, we would have won IN A LANDSLIDE!” In a Fox News interview aired early Wednesday, he said Democrats “did a good job” in their campaigns and blamed Republican candidates for the losses.
The election has handed Democrats new oversight and confirmation powers. It has left open whether those powers will meaningfully constrain Trump’s policy towards Iran, Israel and Ukraine, or whether his veto and presidential authority will keep the central decisions in the White House.
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