Trump backs Hegseth and defends Iran war after GOP midterm losses

UPDATE - follow-up to First midterm results start coming in as polls close in 6 states — live updates: President Trump dismissed talk of removing Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth during comments to reporters at a White House ballroom construction site, stating that Hegseth has done a very good job. The remarks followed reports that Mr. Trump had recently asked advisers if Hegseth should stay in the role.

Election Fallout And The Iran War

Addressing the Republican Party's loss of control in Congress, Mr. Trump blamed candidates for failing to transfer the immense "love" from his rallies, adding that his own presence on the ballot would have secured a victory. He agreed that Vice President JD Vance's view linking the GOP losses to the Iran war is largely true, pointing specifically to high gasoline prices driven by the conflict. Mr. Trump defended the military action, stating that preventing Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon justified losing seats in the Senate, even though he expected oil prices to rise even higher.

Leadership And Construction

Moving to House leadership, Mr. Trump declined to pick a side in the race for Republican leader, mentioning Rep. Jim Jordan by name while noting that current majority leader Rep. Steve Scalise is also likely to run, and praising outgoing Speaker Mike Johnson as fantastic. Handing the microphone to Interior Secretary Doug Burgum during a beam-signing ceremony for the new White House ballroom, Mr. Trump defended his focus on property construction as a relaxing pursuit that keeps the nation's ultimate symbol pristine. He also claimed Washington is now one of the safest U.S. cities, describing it as a killing field under former President Joe Biden.

Context

Midterm elections in the United States occur halfway through a presidential term and regularly serve as a referendum on the sitting administration's policies. Major geopolitical events and domestic economic pressures, such as fuel costs, often heavily influence voter turnout and party success in these congressional contests. Presidents frequently manage internal party alignment and administrative appointments in the wake of significant legislative power shifts.