President Donald Trump said he could not turn the enthusiasm his supporters showed for him into votes for other Republicans, speaking publicly for the first time after Democrats won control of both the House and Senate in Tuesday’s midterm elections.
“If I were on the ballot, we would have won,” Trump said Wednesday as he answered reporters’ questions at a ceremony marking the placement of the final steel beam for the White House ballroom. He pointed to the large crowds at his rallies, saying the affection supporters showed him had not carried over to other candidates.
Trump did not mention the election defeat in his opening remarks, focusing instead on the ballroom project. He addressed the results after a reporter asked whether he agreed with Vice President JD Vance’s view that the war with Iran had cost Republicans the election.
“I think it’s largely true,” Trump said, adding that the conflict had pushed gasoline prices up in the short term. Still, he said he would make the same decision again, arguing that preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon was necessary.
Trump said he had expected oil prices to rise more sharply, but believed the cost was justified. He warned that allowing Iran to develop a nuclear weapon could put the country’s future at risk.
Asked whether he regretted the timing of a speech he gave Monday at the Lincoln Memorial reflecting pool, Trump said he had heard it was well received. He described it as a separate address, unrelated to the election, and compared it to his remarks at the ballroom ceremony.
Trump was also asked about a lengthy social media post from Vance that blamed the Republican losses largely on the Iran war. Vance outlined several steps for winning back voters, including ending the conflict, focusing on living costs and inflation, prioritizing America, and changing the country’s relationship with Israel.
Trump said he understood Vance’s views and thought the post was fine. He said he had known the risks when he acted to stop Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon, and repeated his claim that Iran would never have one.
Despite the Democrats’ gains, Trump said he expected he could work with them, unless they chose to be destructive. He noted that he could veto legislation and said Democrats had already reached out to discuss issues.
He also dismissed the prospect of Democrats impeaching him or members of his Cabinet, arguing that doing so without cause would damage their party. Trump then turned his attention back to the ceremony, telling reporters to watch as the beam was raised.
