Trump cites Iran war, fuel prices and weak messaging in GOP defeat

Former US President Donald Trump has acknowledged that the war with Iran, soaring fuel prices, and weak campaign messaging were among the main factors behind the Republican Party’s significant defeat in the midterm elections.

In an interview with CBS’s “60 Minutes,” Trump said he agreed with Vice President J.D. Vance’s assessment that the Iran war was a key reason for the loss, but defended his decision to confront Tehran, insisting he prevented Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons and that the move was right in the long term.

Trump noted that his personal popularity did not translate to Republican candidates, and expressed willingness to reach a deal with Democrats to grant legal status to some long-term immigrants, admitting that his administration’s deportation policy was “too harsh” and affected workers in service sectors.

On the Iran conflict, Trump said he saw no justification for escalating military operations, claiming Iran’s nuclear capabilities had been buried under thousands of tons of rock and that the Strait of Hormuz remained open to shipping. He added that countries protected by the US would bear the costs of the war.

Regarding Ukraine, Trump said he believed a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine was near, attributing stalled negotiations to animosity between Presidents Putin and Zelensky, and suggesting Ukraine’s borders might change.

On political succession, Trump indicated he might support a Republican candidate in the 2028 election, naming Marco Rubio as a potential contender but stopping short of a final endorsement.

Asked about his growing wealth and ties to the cryptocurrency firm World Liberty Financial, in which his children have ownership stakes, Trump denied knowledge of investment details and said conflicts of interest are an issue for all US presidents.

Trump defended accelerating artificial intelligence development to compete with China, arguing that the risks are exaggerated and manageable, and said he was open to safety regulations as long as they do not slow the US down.

Concluding the interview, Trump said he hopes to enter heaven, but admitted he cannot forgive some political rivals, adding: “I hate some of my enemies, and always will.”

The interview followed sweeping Republican losses in both chambers of Congress and several state offices, described as one of the party’s most significant setbacks in recent midterm elections.