Vice President JD Vance forcefully condemned President Donald Trump's war in Iran on Wednesday morning as he weighs his political future and a possible run for president in 2028.
Vance went scorched earth in a lengthy X post on Wednesday morning on the president's war in Iran, listing all the other reasons the party lost, and appealing to Republican voters to give the party another chance in the future of the MAGA movement.
'The reason we lost is the war. The president himself said so last night,' Vance said.
He sent a strong message to supporters of the Iran war, demanding that they take responsibility for pushing the United States to act in the Middle East.
'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. Argue it was a worthwhile cost to pay. Agree or disagree, that's at least honest,' he said.
Vance posted his reaction to the election just moments before he arrived via his motorcade to the White House for private meetings with the White House.
The president has retreated into the White House for private policy meetings with no public events scheduled.
Trump conceded in a late-night interview with Fox News that high gas prices were a negative consequence of the war in Iran, that cost Republicans in the elections.
'I understand that, I don't agree with it... it's a short term problem for long term gain…The gasoline was caused by Iran,' he said.
US Vice President JD Vance broke his silence about the midterm elections on Wednesday
Vice President JD Vance spent long hours on the campaign trail for Republican candidates in the midterms
Vance privately advised the president against the war but restrained his public criticism of it for most of the year.
He urged Trump supporters to be patient, arguing that the conflict in Iran was not a 'forever war' in the Middle East like previous lengthy and unpopular wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio also privately advised the president caution before going to war in Iran but took care not to speak often about the operation after it did not end quickly as the president predicted.
But on Wednesday, Vance unleashed his true feelings about the war, noting that Trump supporters were deeply unhappy with his decision.
The vice president cited some of his most trusted pollsters, noting that while Trump voters showed up at the ballot box, many of them had a strong message for Republicans.
'I felt negative going into Tuesday, but even I was shocked by this,' he wrote.
Citing the data, Vance said that Trump's supporters wanted to end the Iran war and focus on the cost of living and inflation.
Vice President JD Vance spoke out about what Republicans did wrong in the midterms
The vice president also cited data showing that Trump voters wanted the president and his administration to put 'America first' and change the country's relationship with Israel.
Despite serving as a strong advocate for President Trump's deportation policies, the Vice President insisted that 'amnesty' for illegal immigrants was not the answer.
'I'm open to the idea that we should change enforcement—by focusing more on businesses that hire illegal labor, for instance. But anyone pushing amnesty is lying to you,' he said, condemning what he described as inevitable 'gaslighting' from political experts on the issue of immigration.
The vice president said he was still 'hopeful' for the future of the country, and urged angry Trump supporters to keep engaging with politics despite their failures.
'To the people who are pissed off and want to say, “I told you so”: You’re right, you did tell us so,' he concluded. 'Take that energy into electing Republicans who share your worldview. To the people who are just pissed at the results, you should be. Let’s take that anger and get back to the work of saving our country.'