Trump congratulates Democrats on midterms win, says Iran war played role
Source: France 24 ↗ (cross-verified by 4 outlets — full list below)
President Donald Trump congratulated the Democratic Party on Tuesday after it secured control of both the House and Senate in the midterm elections, telling Fox News Democracy 26 that the party “did a good job” and had been working toward this victory for eleven years. While he acknowledged that the ongoing conflict with Iran and the resulting surge in oil prices likely contributed to the Republican defeat, Trump refused to accept personal responsibility, instead blaming his own party and claiming that had he been on the ballot the Republicans would have won “in a landslide.” He also warned that he would be ready to veto any Democratic legislation, saying he could return “50 different great bills” with a “nice stamp – ‘veto.’”
The interview highlighted the broader political fallout from the Iran war, which polls show was deeply unpopular among voters and is seen as a key factor in the GOP’s loss. Trump noted that “people understood the importance of what I’ve done with Iran,” but also admitted that the stalled conflict hurt his party’s prospects. In the aftermath, Trump posted on Truth Social that he would become a “political pundit” to explain the Republican defeat, targeting Texas Governor Greg Abbott—who lost his seat to Democrat Gina Hinojosa—as an example of a “RINO” whose candidacy contributed to the loss. He also criticized the overall quality of Republican candidates, a sentiment echoed by a White House official who said candidate quality mattered and that Trump had done a better job promoting them than they had themselves.
The White House’s reaction suggested a contentious final two years for Trump, with officials hinting that he would not go quietly as a lame‑duck president. Staffers reportedly watched the results from the East Room, some jokingly ordering take‑out from The Cheesecake Factory in reference to former President Obama’s criticism of White House renovations. A White House spokesperson warned that voters who chose Democrats might experience “buyer’s remorse” when gas prices fall after the Iran conflict is resolved, and promised that Trump’s resolve to combat the “Radical Left” would only grow stronger, hinting at possible retribution against political opponents.
⚡ Effects Interpreter
🌍World Economylow impact
What this means for you
- ▶Trade and investment between countries could shift a little if things escalate.
- ▶Global supply chains might feel a slight tremor as businesses adjust.
🏙️Local Economylow impact
What this means for you
- ▶The knock-on for local trade is usually gradual rather than sudden.
- ▶Modest businesses nearby might tweak their prices in the weeks ahead.
🏦Rates & Bankslow impact
What this means for you
- ▶Base rate decisions are usually made on data trends, not single headlines.
- ▶Savings accounts could see their rates nudged only after a broader trend emerges.
❤️Healthhigh impact
What this means for you
- ▶Neighbours and families might feel more anxious until the dust settles.
- ▶Local surgeries and clinics might see a short-lived rise in enquiries.
💷Wealthmedium impact
What this means for you
- ▶Steady hands usually come out ahead when a story like this breaks.
- ▶Markets have a habit of overreacting first and settling down later.
🏠Housinglow impact
What this means for you
- ▶The property ladder rarely wobbles much from a single piece of news.
- ▶Mortgage shoppers may find deals shift only slightly in the short term.
🌍 Effects for your country
The U.S.'s central bank rate currently stands at 3.75%, so a global rates move like this could feed through to local borrowing costs. The U.S.'s economy is growing at 2.3% with inflation at 3.2%, the backdrop this story's effects play out against locally. Housing-market effects like this are usually felt most where mortgage rates track the U.S.'s own central bank rate closely. With the U.S.'s unemployment at 4.4%, personal-finance effects like this land on a labour market that is currently fairly stable. Health-system effects are harder to localise from economic indicators alone — the real impact in the U.S. depends more on local healthcare capacity than the figures above.
The UK's central bank rate currently stands at 3.75%, so a global rates move like this could feed through to local borrowing costs. The UK's economy is growing at 0.8% with inflation at 3.2%, the backdrop this story's effects play out against locally. Housing-market effects like this are usually felt most where mortgage rates track the UK's own central bank rate closely. With the UK's unemployment at 5.6%, personal-finance effects like this land on a labour market that is currently fairly stable. Health-system effects are harder to localise from economic indicators alone — the real impact in the UK depends more on local healthcare capacity than the figures above.
France's central bank rate currently stands at 2%, so a global rates move like this could feed through to local borrowing costs. France's economy is growing at 0.9% with inflation at 1.8%, the backdrop this story's effects play out against locally. Housing-market effects like this are usually felt most where mortgage rates track France's own central bank rate closely. With France's unemployment at 7.9%, personal-finance effects like this land on a labour market that is already under strain. Health-system effects are harder to localise from economic indicators alone — the real impact in France depends more on local healthcare capacity than the figures above.
Romania's central bank rate currently stands at 6.5%, so a global rates move like this could feed through to local borrowing costs. Romania's economy is growing at 0.7% with inflation at 7.8%, the backdrop this story's effects play out against locally. Housing-market effects like this are usually felt most where mortgage rates track Romania's own central bank rate closely. With Romania's unemployment at 6%, personal-finance effects like this land on a labour market that is currently fairly stable. Health-system effects are harder to localise from economic indicators alone — the real impact in Romania depends more on local healthcare capacity than the figures above.
The UAE's central bank rate currently stands at 3.65%, so a global rates move like this could feed through to local borrowing costs. The UAE's economy is growing at 3.1% with inflation at 2.5%, the backdrop this story's effects play out against locally. Housing-market effects like this are usually felt most where mortgage rates track the UAE's own central bank rate closely. Health-system effects are harder to localise from economic indicators alone — the real impact in the UAE depends more on local healthcare capacity than the figures above.