'I would have done it again': Trump admits Iran war cost GOP but has no regrets

President Donald Trump acknowledged that the Iran war played a part in Republicans' midterm defeat and blamed higher gasoline prices, but said he had no regrets and would launch the war again, as allies warned that his legacy would be tied to it.

President Donald Trump acknowledged on election night that the war with Iran contributed to his party's sweeping midterm defeat, but insisted he had no second thoughts about launching it. "Iran was a piece of it," he told The Wall Street Journal in a phone interview on Tuesday night, as Democrats were projected to win control of both the House and the Senate. "I don't think about it. I did the right thing. I would have done it again."

He made the same case when Politico's Dasha Burns phoned him live during the outlet's election-night broadcast. "I am totally convinced my decision on Iran, for the long-term good of our country, was the correct one," Trump said.

"I don't agree with it. Too bad."

In a separate call to Fox News, the president said Iran was "a part of it" but argued that voters backed his policy and balked only at its price at the pump. "People agree with what I'm doing on Iran, but they probably weren't willing to deal with the short, the early consequence of paying more for gasoline," he said. "You know, I understand that. I don't agree with it. Too bad."

He also drew the link between the conflict and fuel costs in plain terms: "The gasoline was caused by Iran." Americans voted on Tuesday facing the highest gasoline and diesel prices ever recorded on an Election Day, with gasoline averaging $4.12 a gallon nationwide, according to GasBuddy.

Trump told the Journal that rising oil prices, rather than the war itself, were his biggest political liability, while insisting the deeper problem lay elsewhere. "The biggest issue is that I wasn't on the ballot," he said. Asked by Politico whether he would now escalate in Iran, he left the door open: "We're going to take a look, and if we see any opportunity to do one thing or another, we're going to do it."

Allies point to the war

Trump's admission came as people close to him blamed the eight-month war, the spike in energy prices and the conflict's failure to produce a decisive outcome for the losses, the Journal reported. Some White House officials now describe the war, which Trump launched alongside Israel in February, as misguided, and advisers inside and outside the White House have warned him that his legacy will be forever tied to it.

Even friendly voices on Fox News made the connection. "If we didn't go to war with Iran, is this a much different race tonight?" anchor Bret Baier asked. "100%. I don't think there's any doubt about it," host Sean Hannity replied.

Despite internal discussions about possible personnel changes, Trump ruled out a shake-up and stood by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who has overseen the war. "I think he's terrific actually," he told the Journal.

In Tehran, parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf welcomed the result. "Conscience or the cost of living, Americans said NO TO WAR, and we endorse this message," he said, warning that if Washington ignored its voters, "it will learn our NO comes with a Nightmare."

Videos: Politico, Fox News via social media. Photo: The White House (file)

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'I would have done it again': Trump admits Iran war cost GOP but has no regrets