President Donald Trump identified growing dislike of Israel, the war with Iran, and rising gasoline prices as the primary drivers behind the Republican Party's significant losses in the midterm elections. In an extensive interview with CBS's 60 Minutes, conducted by Ross Douthat at the White House on Friday, the president offered his most detailed public analysis of the results, which saw Republicans lose control of both chambers of Congress.
When asked to explain the defeat, Trump insisted that his personal popularity remained strong. He suggested that Republican candidates had failed to translate his support into votes, noting that he was not on the ballot himself. "Well, number one, I was not on the ballot," Trump said. "But I campaigned hard for some people. And I think if I was on the ballot, it would have been a much different situation."
The president acknowledged that voters were dissatisfied with the ongoing conflict and the subsequent increase in fuel costs. He argued that preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons was essential, even if it came at a political price. "They will never have a nuclear weapon," he stated. "And there’s a great dislike, incredibly, for Israel." Trump summarized these three factors as the main reasons for the electoral outcome, though he did not cite specific polling data or identify which voter segments held these views.
Trump also addressed his Vice President JD Vance's recent comments on the election. Vance had argued that the Iran war alienated voters and touched on the administration's relationship with Israel. Trump said he did not disagree with Vance's assessment and recalled that Vance had consulted him before publishing the statement. However, Trump felt Vance omitted the central question of whether the military campaign was the right decision, a choice Trump himself would make again emphatically.
In a notable disclosure, Trump claimed that Washington and Tehran were close to reaching a diplomatic agreement just before the election. He suggested that the Democratic victories encouraged Iranian negotiators to seek better terms. "We would’ve had a deal, except for this election," he said. Despite this setback, the president expressed confidence that an agreement would eventually be reached, stating that the war had effectively been won and that Iran was facing mounting pressure.
The president defended American strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities, arguing they prevented the destruction of Israel. He claimed that sophisticated surveillance systems were monitoring the three sites struck by US forces, as well as the underground facility known as Pickaxe Mountain. Trump asserted that if a further strike on Pickaxe Mountain were necessary, it could be completed within one hour. He also claimed that countries protected by the United States would reimburse Washington for the costs of the war, adding, "Without us, Israel wouldn’t exist."
Beyond foreign policy, Trump made an unusual concession regarding immigration. He admitted that the mass deportation campaign may have gone too far and hurt Republicans politically. While he maintained that closing the southern border was a success, he acknowledged that removing long-term undocumented workers created political problems. "I think it was too tough," he said. He suggested that an agreement with Democrats could allow certain workers to remain in the country.
Trump also blamed poor messaging and the media for economic dissatisfaction among voters. He argued that the administration had failed to communicate its achievements effectively and criticized news organizations for not covering positive economic developments. He claimed that the stock market lost approximately $3 trillion in value following the Democratic victories and highlighted employment figures showing 165,000 new jobs, which he said exceeded expectations.
Regarding potential personnel changes, Trump indicated that some cabinet adjustments were possible but defended Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. He rejected the idea of impeaching Hegseth, citing the successful military operations in Venezuela and Iran. "We won both," Trump said. "How do you impeach a guy that, we had two wars, we won them both?"
Looking toward the 2028 presidential election, Trump remained noncommittal about endorsing a successor. He praised Secretary of State Marco Rubio, stating that Rubio was performing a fantastic job. The president also discussed his personal wealth, noting that his net worth had increased significantly since his return to office, and addressed questions about his family's cryptocurrency company, World Liberty Financial. He described himself as a strong supporter of artificial intelligence, warning that if the United States did not lead in the technology, China would.
