Trump 'couldn't transfer the love' of his supporters to other Republicans amid historic midterm loss

President Donald Trump acknowledged on Wednesday that he was unable to pass his personal popularity on to other Republican candidates, a day after Democrats won both the House of Representatives and the Senate in the midterm elections. Speaking to reporters at a White House ceremony marking the last steel beam placed in the ballroom, he said he believes the GOP would have prevailed had he been on the ballot, pointing to the crowds at his rallies, according to Fox News.

Asked whether he agreed with Vice President JD Vance that the war with Iran cost Republicans the election, Trump said that was probably largely accurate, since the conflict pushed gasoline prices up somewhat in the short term. He maintained, though, that he would make the same decision again, arguing that preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon is the only long-term answer. He added that he had expected oil prices to climb far more than they did when he made the call.

Trump also defended his Monday address at the Lincoln Memorial reflecting pool, which drew criticism over its timing. He said it had received strong reviews and was unrelated to the election.

Summarized by PolitiKool from Fox News’s reporting. Read the full story at Fox News →