Trump's election night media blitz blames GOP losses on gas prices and war in Iran; does not regret launching war

A major blue wave swept across the United States, with Democrats making historic victories and handily reasserting control over both the upper and lower chambers of Congress, and now President Donald Trump is looking for something to blame.

According to President Trump, Republican losses in the midterm elections were due to high gas prices and the war in Iran in a series of interviews Tuesday night, but he said he has no regrets about launching the war. Asked by the Wall Street Journal in a phone interview whether the war contributed to the party’s poor performance, Trump said: “Iran was a piece of it.”

In a separate interview with Fox News, Trump put more weight on fuel costs. “I don’t think it’s the war, I think it’s the gas prices,” he said. “People agree with what I’m doing on Iran, but they really probably weren’t willing to do the short-term consequence of paying more for gasoline. And, you know, I understand that. I don’t agree with it, and I would say to people, it’s a short-term problem but for long-term gain.”

Trump told WSJ that he has no second thoughts about the war, despite its impact on his popularity ratings. “I don’t think about it. I did the right thing. I would have done it again,” he said.

It's been reported that the president has struggled for months to end the conflict and complained to advisers about how it has become a constant problem. Despite that, Trump has separately said the war would be over “when I say it’s over."

Nevertheless, despite his objections to Democratic policy and his endorsement of Republican candidates ahead of the election, Trump said he would accept the election results. “I am absolutely willing to accept those results,” he said.

“We’ll work with the Democrats, and we’ll, you know, look forward to working with them. We’ll probably work something out.”

In another call, with CBS News Trump congratulated Democrats. “My message is, congratulations to the Democrats, and I look forward to working with you for the good of our country,” he said. “I know a lot of Democrats, I have total veto power, and I’m sure we’ll be able to work things out.” He added: “I think they’re gonna want to work with me. Otherwise I’d just veto everything, and they’re not gonna want that.”

Trump insisted that Republicans lost because he was not on the ballot but also said he had no regrets about endorsing candidates such as Sen. Darline Graham of South Carolina, who lost her race, and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, who was trailing in his Senate campaign at the time of Trump's statement but ultimately lost as well.

In this midterm election, Democrats overwhelmingly defeated the Republican party across the board, winning control of the Senate, House, and multiple Gubernatorial seats. Many consider it to be a widespread repudiation of Trump and the Republican Party, reaching even their most loyal territories.

Seven Senate seats and more than 30 House seats flipped. Texas, Kansas and South Carolina elected Democratic senators for the first time in decades, and Democrats had not won a US Senate election in Kansas since 1932.

Sen. Susan Collins of Maine, in office since 1997, conceded to Democrat Troy Jackson, ending her bid for a sixth term, though the race had not yet been officially called. In Ohio, Democrat Sherrod Brown defeated Sen. Jon Husted in a race that topped $500 million in spending. “You sent an undeniable message tonight: Ohio is not for sale,” Brown said. In Iowa, Democrat Josh Turek won the open seat held by retiring Sen. Joni Ernst, defeating Rep. Ashley Hinson.

Democrats also flipped four governorships: Keisha Lance Bottoms in Georgia, Amy Acton in Ohio, Rod Sand in Iowa and Gina Hinojosa in Texas.

Republicans held some ground. Sen. Mike Rounds won a third term in South Dakota, and Sen. Marsha Blackburn won the Tennessee governorship, which will require her to resign her Senate seat. Democrat Amy Klobuchar won the Minnesota governorship. “I am not interested in moving Minnesota to the left or the right; I want to move us forward,” she said, adding that she was “not going to be a rubber stamp for Donald Trump.”