Vice President JD Vance said Wednesday that he believes Republicans
of Congress because of voters' opposition to the war in Iran and suggested that the conflict may not have been worth the cost of losing the GOP's hold on the Senate.
uncertain
conflict → say → Senate
In his first public comments since
in the midterm elections, Vance said Republicans must be honest about the impact the war had on their campaigns in order to determine the best path forward for the party.
asserted
war → say → party
"The reason we lost is the war.
asserted
we → lose → ?
The president himself said so last night," Vance wrote in a post on X.
asserted
Vance → say → X.
"If you'd like to argue it was worth it, that losing the Senate for the next 6 years was worth it, then do so.
asserted
losing → like → years
Argue it was a worthwhile cost to pay.
asserted
it → argue → ?
Agree or disagree, that's at least honest.
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that → agree → ?
But everyone knows why we lost.
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we → know → ?
And any honest conversation about where we go from here must start there."
asserted
we → go → ?
The vice president said many voters who backed President Trump and him in the 2024 presidential contest cast their ballots for Democrats in 2026 for four reasons: to end the war with Iran, focus on the cost of living and inflation, put America first and change the U.S. relationship to Israel.
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who → say → Israel
"Our voters showed up," Vance wrote.
asserted
Vance → show → ?
"And the above four reasons are why many of them voted for Democrats."
asserted
many → vote → Democrats
The vice president highlighted Fox News host Rachel Campos-Duffy's call to reach a "diplomatic resolution" to the conflict with Iran, saying that her recommendation was "sound."
asserted
recommendation → highlight → Iran
Vance spent much of the spring leading U.S. negotiators in talks aimed at ending the conflict and reached an ill-fated agreement with Iran to halt the fighting that soon fell apart.
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that → spend → fighting
In his post, the vice president said an unnamed data analyst told him that voters who backed him and Mr. Trump in 2024 were angry and would vote for Democrats in the midterms.
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who → say → midterms
He said that analysis "looks prophetic now."
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analysis → say → ?
"Our voters did show up," he wrote.
asserted
he → show → ?
Undoubtedly there were places we could have done better on turnout.
uncertain
we → be → turnout
The main problem is that many people who voted for Trump/Vance in 2024 voted for Democrats in 2026.
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who → vote → 2026
"
Vance also said it's likely the GOP's economic messaging "wasn't sharp enough" in the closing weeks of the campaign.
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messaging → say → campaign
"I remain hopeful about our country," he said.
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he → remain → country
"To the people who are pissed off and want to say, 'II told you so': you're right, you did tell us so.
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you → piss → you
Take that energy into electing Republicans who share your worldview.
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who → take → worldview
Let's take that anger and get back to the work of saving our country."
asserted
's → let → country
Democrats are
in the Senate following wins in 10 of 11 battleground states.
asserted
Democrats → follow → states
The Senate elections in and are unresolved and rated as toss-ups.
asserted
elections → rat → ups
CBS News estimates between 251 and 268 seats in the House when all votes are counted.
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votes → estimate → House
Mr. Trump launched the war in Iran in late February and had pledged at the time that it would last only four to five weeks.
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it → launch → time
But it has since stretched into its eighth month, leading to a spike in gas prices.
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it → stretch → prices
In an interview with Fox News on Tuesday, the president
was partially to blame for Republicans' losses, but he said "people understand the importance of what I've done.
asserted
I → blame → what
"Still, Mr. Trump has repeatedly defended his decision to go to war with Iran and
on Tuesday that Tehran must not be able to develop a nuclear weapon.
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Tehran → defend → weapon
The president said the war will end "when I say it ends."
asserted
it → say → ?
The U.S. according to the Defense Department.
uncertain
U.S. → accord → Department
Twenty-three U.S. service members during the conflict, and 865 have been wounded,
asserted
865 → wound → conflict
The Aporia
