Trump admits Republicans lost midterms partly over Iran war

Donald Trump has spoken publicly for the first time since the US midterm elections. He agreed with Vice President JD Vance that Republicans lost largely because of the war with Iran, and said he is not afraid of impeachment, even though Democrats have retaken control of Congress.

The president's remarks began unexpectedly: he did not say a word about the election and instead started talking about the construction of a ballroom at the White House. According to him, the hall will be “not only one of the largest, but also one of the most beautiful ballrooms in the world.” Trump also said the building is expected to house drones, and that the structure itself will be, as he put it, exceptionally well protected.

“That’s largely true”

Trump turned to the election results only after a reporter asked whether he agreed with Vance that the party had lost because of the war with Iran. Shortly before, the vice president had written on social media that Republicans were defeated because of that conflict and that “everyone knows it.” Trump replied: “That’s largely true.”

The president expressed no regrets about the war and said he would do it again. “Iran cannot be allowed to have a nuclear weapon,” he said, repeating his explanation for why the conflict began. At the same time, he said, voters were bothered not by the war itself but by high gasoline prices.

Not afraid of impeachment

Another reporter asked whether Trump fears impeachment now that Democrats again control Congress. “Not at all,” the president replied. He claims that impeachment would “destroy” the Democratic Party and would be “impeachment without a cause.” “Our country is more successful now than at any time in its history,” he added.

Democrats will take over committee chairmanships in the Senate and the House of Representatives, and with them the power to subpoena witnesses and investigate the president and members of his administration. The House has already impeached Trump twice, and both times the Senate acquitted him.

The president then quickly steered the conversation back to the construction site. “Look at the beam going up,” he said. “Now imagine the chandeliers, imagine the marble floors.”

Around Prague, based on reporting by novinky.cz