Trump offers rare congratulations to Democrats, admits Iran war affected the results. But still warns ‘if Iran doesn’t behave, I will’

President Donald Trump offered rare praise to rival Democrats on Tuesday, acknowledging they had done a “good job” after dominating the midterm elections against his Republican Party. “The Democrats did a good job. They fought hard,” he conceded to Fox News in a post-election phone call. “Well, I say this: congratulations to the Democrats,” he later added. “They did a good job. They’ve been looking for this one for 11 years, and they finally got it.”

Democrats gained control of both chambers of Congress, overturning the Republican majorities Trump’s party held after a massive wave of support in Tuesday’s midterm elections. Trump’s rare diplomatic tone toward Democrats recalled his response after the 2018 midterm wave that Republicans faced during his first administration. Yet, despite his optimistic remarks about bipartisanship, he soon became embroiled in bitter conflicts with Democrats and ultimately faced two impeachments.

Concerns over affordability, including higher prices for gasoline and diesel fueled by the Iran war, also drove away Republican support. When asked for an explanation of the midterm outcome, Trump pointed to the situation with Iran as a contributing factor, but placed primary blame on high fuel costs for the party’s losses. “People agree with what I’m doing on Iran, but they probably weren’t willing to accept the short-term consequence of paying more for gasoline. I understand that. I don’t agree with it,” he said.

A move with Iran is still in consideration

Meanwhile, the president also tried to deflect blame, saying he wasn’t on the ballot in 2026. “If I was on the ballot, they would have gotten out,” Trump said of his supporters. “Look, they got out for the rallies. You never saw rallies that big. I mean, outside of the rallies I have, when I have, you know, the general election, which is you know a step above, in all fairness, like maybe a few steps above.”

Meanwhile, the president reiterated that he was not considering major staff changes, insisting the election results “had nothing to do with my cabinet.” He also criticized Greg Abbott, who lost the Texas governor’s race to Democrat Gina Hinojosa, claiming Abbott would not have lost if he “hadn’t become a RINO in the last six months,” referencing the term “Republican in Name Only.” “If Greg Abbott, the Governor of Texas, hadn’t become a RINO in the last six months of his political life, he wouldn’t have lost,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “He went back to his original formula, and it wasn’t pretty!”

Trump also suggested he remains open-minded about his next moves with Iran—which celebrated the Republican’s defeat. “Certainly, if Iran doesn’t behave, I will,” Trump replied when asked if he plans to resume strikes. “And if they do, you know, we can sign something up. And if it’s going to be binding and good, and they’re never going to have a nuclear weapon, good. Otherwise, I’ll just finish the job very easily. We have the greatest military in the world.”