Trump Calls Iran War Worthwhile Despite Midterm Losses

President Donald Trump suggested on Thursday that his unpopular eight-month war against Iran will not shape his post-election strategy, even as he evaluates the scale of the Republican Party’s losses in Tuesday’s midterms.

For several weeks, the president threatened a full-scale bombardment of Tehran if the country did not accept his terms. However, his comments indicate that the election results are not weighing heavily on his calculations for the next steps in the Middle East.

Democrats gained large majorities in the House and Senate, with the party’s control of the upper chamber set to expand significantly. The Democrats will hold at least 54 seats in the 100-member Senate next year, with the possibility of reaching 56 seats depending on final tallies in Mississippi and Alaska. This majority provides them with enough power to block or ignore presidential nominations using aggressive legislative tactics.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, who is expected to return as majority leader, promised that Democrats will prevent the administration from installing a right-winger on the Supreme Court or other federal judges. He stated that the party will use its new leverage to stop what it considers poor judicial and cabinet choices.

The shift in power complicates the administration’s ability to confirm Supreme Court nominees. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis noted that the chance of confirming a successor to Justice Thomas or Justice Alito during Trump’s term is zero. He added that the likelihood of confirming a nominee during a hypothetical Republican administration from 2029 to 2033 is also likely zero because the party may not recapture enough Senate seats in 2028.

The two oldest justices, Samuel Alito, 76, and Clarence Thomas, 78, have not publicly indicated they will retire before Democratic majorities take control of both chambers in January. Alito has mused about retirement but said he will stay through next summer. Thomas will become the longest-serving justice in U.S. history in May 2028.

White House spokeswoman Lauren Bis countered that Democrats are politicizing the court by entertaining plans to pack it with liberal justices. She said President Trump will never allow the court to be ruined, emphasizing the need to maintain an independent judiciary.

In related news, President Trump spoke with Qatar’s emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al Thani, about de-escalating tensions in the region. The Qatari ruler’s media office stated that the discussion centered on international efforts to end the crisis and achieve security and stability. Qatar and other Gulf Arab allies, which came under heavy fire from Iran, remain anxious to avoid further escalation that could threaten energy supplies and maritime navigation.

The economic impact of the war and election results also drew attention as stock markets plunged Thursday. President Trump’s top economic adviser, Kevin Hassett, told CNBC that the U.S. can still have a blockbuster economy even if data center construction slows. He praised a Friday jobs report that showed 165,000 new jobs were created and unemployment dipped to 4.1%, figures that exceeded the 65,000 jobs economists had expected.