US president backs defence secretary Pete Hegseth, while Vance blames the war for Republican losses. Donald Trump admitted the Iran war contributed to Republican midterm losses due to rising fuel pricesHe defended the war, saying he would make the same decision to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weaponsTrump backed defence secretary Pete Hegseth, while Vance blamed the war for Republican lossesUS President Donald Trump has acknowledged that the war in Iran was.