President Donald Trump said the War in Iran played a part in Republican losses in Tuesday’s 2026 midterm elections, as Democrats prepared to take control of both the House and Senate, according to CNN projections. He also pointed to voters’ reluctance to bear the short-term cost of higher gasoline prices, while saying they understood the importance of his actions in Iran.
Trump said he would accept the election results, but warned that he would veto legislation sent to him by Democrats if he considered it unacceptable. He suggested that repeated vetoes could eventually lead to negotiations between the parties. He also denied plans to make changes to his Cabinet.
The projected Democratic gains include Senate victories in South Carolina, Texas, Ohio, Kansas and Iowa. The exact size of the party’s majorities was still being determined as votes were counted. Democrats needed only three additional seats to win the House, while their Senate gains required victories in states Trump carried by double-digit margins in 2024.
Control of both chambers would give Democrats greater authority to investigate the administration and issue subpoenas. A Democratic Senate could also block Trump’s judicial nominees, including a potential Supreme Court appointment. However, Trump’s veto power and the 60-vote threshold for most Senate legislation are expected to limit the chances of Democrats passing much of their preferred agenda.
The report cited inflation, Trump’s tariffs, the Iran war, and voter concerns about his conduct and personal enrichment as apparent factors in the Republican defeats. CNN’s election poll found that more than six in ten voters disapproved of Trump, while two-thirds said his policies had worsened the economy.
Sources: CNN Brasil.