Could War With Iran Cost Trump the Elections? Here’s What He Said

President Donald Trump acknowledged on Thursday, October 1st that war with Iran could cost his party control of the Congress. He said this in front of the White House, just over a month before the midterm elections on November 3rd.

A reporter asked if he agreed with his daughter-in-law, Lara Trump. She said on Wednesday, on the YouTube program «Harry Cole Saves the West,» that the war could cost him the elections, according to The Hill. Lara Trump does not hold an official government position, according to Business Insider via AOL, and Trump responded: «It’s possible. It should help.»

The war began on February 28th, when the United States and Israel launched the first attacks against Iran, and it has already exceeded seven months, according to Salon. Trump maintains that his objective is to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon. «Iran will not have a nuclear weapon,» he stated to journalists.

Punishment Vote: How Inflation and Gas Prices Weigh In

An AP-NORC poll (The Associated Press and the NORC Center for Public Affairs Research) was conducted from September 24th to 28th with 2,140 adults, according to The Hill. 71% disapprove of how Trump is handling the war, and 69% say the conflict has not been worth it, reported Salon.

The same poll indicates that 65% blame Trump’s policies more than other factors for high prices, according to CNN. Only 26% approve of his handling of the economy, a low in that survey, according to The Hill. Before the 2022 midterms, 44% blamed Biden for prices, CNN reported.

The cost is felt in people’s pockets. Moody’s Analytics, an economic analysis firm, estimated in June that the war cost $100 billion to households in its first three months, around $750 per household, according to Business Insider via AOL. Mikal Baker, a 47-year-old independent voter in Sandy Springs, Georgia, said he disapproves of the war and is frustrated by its effect on gas prices, according to Spectrum News.

What’s at Stake in Congress After the Midterm Elections

The midterm elections renew all 435 seats in the House of Representatives and one-third of the Senate. If Democrats win one or both chambers, they can block presidential initiatives, control committees, and subpoena officials. The Constitution also gives the House the power to initiate impeachment, which requires a simple majority.

To convict a president, the Senate needs the vote of two-thirds of its members. Additionally, the 1973 War Powers Resolution requires notifying Congress within 48 hours about a military action. Without Congressional authorization, the law limits that action to 60 days, with a possible 30-day extension.

Trump defends the war. He said that if asked whether Iran can have a nuclear weapon, «100%» respond no, according to Salon. Around 61% of Republicans approved his handling of Iran in July, according to AP-NORC.

Diplomacy With Iran, Campaign, and Your Vote: What’s Coming

Lara Trump said Iran «absolutely» waits until the elections, although Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian claims he wants a deal before November, according to The Hill. Trump said that Iran «will cease to exist» if it does not sign «a very fair deal.» Legislators have stated that such threats could constitute war crimes, according to the same source.

Trump also said he does not «think» about the economic hardships of Americans when deciding the course with Iran, according to The Hill. He characterized the rise in gas prices as a «very cheap price to pay.» He later traveled to a rally in the Choctaw Nation in Oklahoma.

Elections are on November 3rd, and their results will define the balance of power in Washington starting in 2027. You can verify your registration and check your state’s rules at Vote.gov, with information in Spanish. Registration deadlines and early voting dates vary by state, so it’s worth checking them ahead of time.