by Emmitt Barry, Worthy News Washington D.C. Bureau Chief
WASHINGTON (Worthy News) – President Donald Trump acknowledged Sunday that growing hostility toward Israel, opposition to the war with Iran, and rising gasoline prices contributed to Republicans’ sweeping defeat in last week’s midterm elections, which handed Democrats control of both chambers of Congress.
Speaking during an interview with CBS’s 60 Minutes, Trump suggested that his absence from the ballot and dissatisfaction with Republican candidates played a role, but said foreign policy had become a major political liability.
“They didn’t like the war. They didn’t like the fact that gasoline went up,” Trump said, adding that there was “a great dislike, incredibly, for Israel.”
The president’s remarks echoed concerns raised by Vice President JD Vance, who suggested following the election that Republicans would need to reconsider their relationship with Israel to regain voter support. Asked whether he agreed with Vance’s assessment, Trump replied, “I don’t disagree with it.”
The comments signal growing political pressure on Washington’s longstanding alliance with the Jewish state, particularly as the Iran conflict continues to strain American public opinion and household finances.
According to Reuters, the Republican defeat has also triggered unrest within Trump’s Make America Great Again movement, with some longtime supporters questioning the administration’s handling of the Iran war, rising fuel costs, and its broader political strategy.
Despite the backlash, Trump defended military operations against Iran, insisting that preventing Tehran from obtaining nuclear weapons remained essential to Israel’s survival.
The president’s assessment raises questions about the future of American support for Israel as Democrats prepare to assume control of Congress in January and Republicans confront divisions within their own political base.
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