00:00U.S. President Donald Trump has reacted to the Democrats winning both chambers of the Congress.
00:05He's now blamed the war for U.S. midterm poll debacle and the defeat of the Republicans.
00:11Trump says that Republicans harmed by Iran war and Republicans could not transfer love for me.
00:18This is what Donald Trump is now saying were worth it to stop Iran from nuke.
00:23So although he's admitting that the Iran war was the reason behind the defeat of the Republicans in the midterm
00:30polls,
00:30but he's also admitting that he does not regret and he would not have done anything differently as far as
00:36the war with Iran is concerned.
00:37And he's also calling it worth it to stop Iran from nukes.
00:42And he's also claimed that how the Republicans could not transfer love for him.
00:47And his supporters did not support the Republicans in the midterm polls.
00:52So let's listen in to what Donald Trump is now saying on the poll debacle.
00:57Now, look, I mean, if I were on the ballot, we would have won.
01:00You saw the people that were packed, thousands and thousands of people at every rally.
01:04And if I was on the ballot, we would have won.
01:07But they just, you couldn't transfer that love.
01:09There was such love at those rallies. It was an incredible one.
01:12We weren't able to transfer the love to candidates.
01:15I think it's largely true because it drove the gasoline up a little bit short term.
01:21And probably that's, probably it's true.
01:24But at the same time, if I had it to do again, I'd have to do it again.
01:27Because long term, it's the only answer.
01:29You can't let Iran have a nuclear weapon.
01:32And my colleague Rohit Sharma is now joining us from Washington, D.C.
01:36Rohit, is Donald Trump admitting that, yes, the Iran war did cost them, the Republicans,
01:43this midterm elections, but he's also at the same time refusing to accept that it was a policy mistake?
01:50Well, I think President Trump has been clear on this, Anjali.
01:53You know, he always has maintained and said all these months that there's a short, you know,
02:00there will be a short thing, I mean, short term damage and the Americans will have to pay up.
02:04But if you think about long term, if, you know, this war could end Iran's ambition to get a nuclear
02:10weapon,
02:11he was all up for it.
02:12So he was really, you know, reiterating the same comments that he'd been making for months.
02:18But a very, you know, frankly, a very glaring admission by President Donald Trump acknowledging
02:22what Vice President J.D.
02:24Vence had put out on X saying that the war is one of the key reasons why this election has,
02:31they've lost this election and the majorities in both House and the Senate.
02:36So you will probably hear more versions of why and how and all that in coming days.
02:42Something that, you know, we'll obviously get to know first time from President.
02:46And I think the Republicans today, mostly in Washington, D.C. and around the country,
02:51were huddling, trying to understand what to do, what to do next.
02:54So we will hear many such policy, you know, decisions that could be blamed for this
03:00disastrous performance in the midterms.
03:04All right, Rohit, do stay with us.
03:06So that is how Donald Trump has now reacted on the poll debacle.
03:10He's mentioning that how it was the Iran war that contributed to the defeat of the Republicans.
03:16But he's also acknowledging that how it was necessary to stop Iran from having nukes.
03:21And he's also not accepting it to be a policy mistake.
03:27But he's acknowledging that, yes, it was a major factor that led to the defeat of the Republicans.
03:36So the political fallout from the U.S. midterm results is putting the Trump administration's Iran policy under scrutiny.
03:42Hours after Democrats scored significant victories, U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance has blamed the war for Republican losses,
03:50saying that many voters who backed them in 2024 switched sides in 2026.
03:55J.D. Vance has also pointed to the war, inflation, the cost of living and U.S. policy towards Israel
04:01as key reasons behind voter anger.
04:04Earlier, U.S. President Donald Trump defended his Iran policy, saying that people support his actions
04:10but were unwilling to bear the immediate cost of higher gasoline prices.
04:16It would destroy the Democrat Party if they did that.
04:19It was impeachment for no reason.
04:21What, for having a successful country?
04:23Our country is more successful now than at any time in its history.
04:26I think it would destroy the Democrat Party if they did that.
04:29It was impeachment for no reason.
04:31What, for having a successful country?
04:33Our country is more successful now than at any time in its history.
04:38And my colleague Rohit Sharma continues to stay with us.
04:41Rohit, although Vice President J.D. Vance has also made a similar statement
04:44that it was the Iran war that played a major role in the loss of the Republicans,
04:51but there's a difference in tone between Donald Trump and J.D. Vance.
04:54J.D. Vance is also highlighting the rising cost of living that was being won by the people of America.
05:03And that is what led to the anger.
05:07So, agreed, you know, 100%.
05:10And something President Donald Trump also understood, and I think he explained that,
05:13you know, it was the war that led to the rising prices of fuel,
05:19that led to the rising prices and inflation and as such, a cascading effect, right?
05:24But, you know, you also have to understand this, Anjali.
05:27You know, there's only one person who will be running in 228 between President Donald Trump and J.D. Vance,
05:32and it's J.D. Vance.
05:33And a lot of political pundits in Washington, D.C. believe that these midterm elections
05:38have been, you know, disastrous not only for Republicans,
05:42but also somebody like J.D. Vance who was seen as the apparent heir to President Donald Trump
05:48and his MAGA movement.
05:49Even people believe that he was going to announce his campaign early next year.
05:54He's already been fundraising for the most part of this year
05:57so that he can launch his presidential campaign.
05:59So, this has been a rejection of MAGA policies.
06:03And what J.D. Vance is trying to do is he's trying to get ahead
06:06and trying to distance himself from these failed policies.
06:10Now, something that Kamala Harris could not do when she ran in 2024,
06:13she could not criticize Joe Biden.
06:16But I think J.D. Vance is adopting a different strategy.
06:18We know that J.D. Vance met with President Donald Trump this morning,
06:23along with other secretaries.
06:24They did a little bit of huddle, and then J.D. Vance came on and put that tweet.
06:28So, essentially, he's trying to criticize the failures.
06:32He's also trying to step up and try to be that leader who's acknowledging the failures
06:37and willing to work with Republicans to identify a platform that they can run on in 2028.
06:43That's why the difference, I think, President Donald Trump is taking this in his stride.
06:47He said, look, you know, this was a war.
06:49We had to fight.
06:50We had no chance.
06:51And we lost the election.
06:53And that's perfectly fine.
06:54You know, I'll be more than willing to work with Democrats.
06:57Something that J.D. Vance cannot afford to do.
06:59So, hence the difference between both the leaders and their statements, Anjali.
07:02All right.
07:03Rohit, do stay with us.
07:04Meanwhile, Donald Trump has also given a threat of using the veto power.
07:09He said that whenever, if he disagrees with what the Congress decides, then he has the veto power
07:15and he will be very much using that veto power.
07:19So, let's understand what exactly is this Trump's veto power.
07:23So, it's the U.S. Constitution allows the president to wield veto.
07:28President can reject a bill passed by the Congress and now the Congress is controlled by Democrats,
07:33be it the House of Representatives or the Senate.
07:36Now, president can block bill even after it is approved from the House and from the Senate.
07:43And so, Donald Trump can veto any bill that he disagrees with.
07:47And he's already mentioned that, he's already given that warning that he will try to make a deal.
07:53But if there's something that he does not agree with, then there's veto power that he has.
07:58Trump can let a bill die by not signing it.
08:01So, that's also there.
08:02And he can use veto threat to force the Democrats into talks.
08:07And the veto can block Democratic plan on taxes, spending and immigration.
08:12So, remember, the Democrats have their own strategy for how they will be controlling the Senate
08:20and the House of Representatives and what will be the conduct.
08:23Meanwhile, Trump has his own plans.
08:25And Congress can kill a veto with two-third margin in House and Senate.
08:30So, Democrats will need Republican help for supermajority.
08:34So, Democrats alone will not be able to do it.
08:37They will need the help of Republicans as well.
08:39And veto is a powerful check on the Congress, but it is not absolute.
08:43So, that is what the veto power is that Donald Trump has been threatening the Democrats with.
