Democrats Seize Congress as Trump Defends Iran War
Democrats won control of both U.S. congressional chambers in midterm elections, a result linked to voter discontent over the ongoing war with Iran.
The Democratic Party seized control of both the U.S. House of Representatives and the Senate in the November 3 midterm elections, winning key seats in traditionally Republican strongholds such as Texas, Ohio, and Kansas. The landslide victory is widely viewed as a rebuke of Donald Trump and his administration, specifically regarding tariffs, high energy prices, and the war with Iran launched in February 2026 following joint U.S.-Israeli strikes.
President Trump acknowledged that the unpopularity of the conflict contributed to the Republican losses but maintained that the decision to engage was correct to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons. While he has no immediate plans for new strikes, he stated the military remains locked and loaded. He has signaled his intent to veto legislation he deems unreasonable, though he expressed a willingness to eventually work with the new majority.
In Iran, Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf hailed the results as a public verdict that Americans said "NO TO WAR," warning that ignoring this will would lead to a "Nightmare." Meanwhile, Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei cautioned that U.S. hostility toward Tehran would persist regardless of party shifts.
International reactions were mixed. UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham urged global unity to resolve the Middle East conflict to lower living costs. In Israel, opposition leaders argued the results make Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's leadership untenable. The new Democratic-led Congress is expected to increase oversight of the conflict and may pursue a binding War Powers Resolution to force an end to the war starting in January.
