WASHINGTON – US Vice President JD Vance delivered stunning political admission after Republican Party’s crushing defeat in 2026 midterm elections, blaming President Donald Trump’s war with Iran for the electoral disaster that has reportedly handed Democrats control of Congress.
The political shock triggered by Republicans’ disastrous performance in 2026 US midterm elections now reached Pentagon, with President Donald Trump reportedly considering removing Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth as anger over the Iran war threatens to claim senior figures within his administration.
Trump reportedly start questioning whether Hegseth should remain in charge of the US military establishment, raising the prospect of a dramatic leadership shake-up in Washington. The reported discussions suggest the president is reassessing his defense team as the political consequences of the prolonged confrontation with Iran become increasingly difficult for the White House to contain.
Trump raised Hegseth’s future during confidential meetings and telephone conversations with close advisers following Tuesday’s election setback. Although no dismissal has been ordered, the discussions have fueled speculation that the defense secretary could become one of the most prominent casualties of the Republican Party’s electoral collapse.
The growing pressure extends beyond Hegseth, with two of America’s most senior military commanders reportedly facing questions over their involvement in the administration’s Iran war strategy.
Admiral Brad Cooper, the commander of US Central Command (CENTCOM), and General Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, have both attracted attention within the administration over their roles in advising the president and directing military operations linked to the conflict.
Some White House aides reportedly believe the Republican Party might have avoided such devastating electoral losses had the administration not become embroiled in the war. That assessment has intensified scrutiny of the officials responsible for presenting military options, assessing battlefield developments and advising Trump on the conflict.
While Trump faces growing questions about the Pentagon’s leadership, Vice President JD Vance has delivered one of the administration’s most striking assessments of the election defeat, directly identifying the war with Iran as a major reason Republicans lost control of Congress.
Vance’s assessment also exposed difference in emphasis within the Republican leadership over what went wrong during the midterms. Trump has publicly focused on weaknesses among Republican candidates and problems with voter participation, while his vice president has argued that public frustration with the Iran conflict played a decisive role in the defeat.
The unusually direct criticism has added another dimension to the debate over whether the administration must reconsider its military strategy, political priorities and senior leadership.
