Trump Administration Status: Confirmed by Reuters, NBC News and the Washington Post

Democrats Seize Congress as Trump Ties Midterm Losses to Iran War Gas Prices

By AFNS Research Desk · November 5, 2026 · 1 min read

The U.S. Capitol Building in Washington, D.C., with cherry blossoms in the foreground (file image) — Photo: Diego Delso / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0 (cropped)

Summary

Democrats won majorities in both chambers in the Nov. 3 midterms, with at least 54 Senate seats and at least 30 House seats gained, Mississippi and Alaska still undecided, Reuters reports. Trump called Vance's view that the war cost the GOP "largely true" but said he would do it again; House Speaker Mike Johnson will not seek to stay on as GOP leader, according to a top aide (NBC News, Washington Post).

Democrats hold at least 54 Senate seats and gained at least 30 House seats, with Mississippi and Alaska still undecided (Reuters)
Trump called Vance's view that the war cost the GOP "largely true" but said he would do it again (NBC News)
Johnson will not run to stay on as GOP leader, according to a top aide (Washington Post)
Reuters says voters were angry over high prices and the U.S.-Iran war, and Democrats vowed to rein in the president

Status: Confirmed by Reuters, NBC News and the Washington Post. Seat counts are stated as "at least," with Mississippi and Alaska still undecided.

Democrats won majorities in both the House and the Senate in the Nov. 3 midterms, according to Reuters. Reuters reports Democrats hold at least 54 Senate seats and gained at least 30 House seats, with Mississippi and Alaska still undecided. Voters were angry over high prices and the U.S.-Iran war, Reuters says, and Democrats vowed to use their new majorities to rein in the president, setting up possible gridlock.

The Washington Post described the outcome as the Republican Party's worst losses in half a century and reported that House Speaker Mike Johnson will not seek to remain GOP leader, according to a top aide.

Trump on Vance and the war

President Trump made his first post-election appearance at the White House ballroom construction site. Asked about Vice President JD Vance's assessment that the Iran war cost Republicans the midterms, Trump told NBC News: "I think it's largely true because it drove the gasoline up a little bit short term," but added, "if I had it to do again, I'd have to do it again because long term it's the only answer. You can't let Iran have a nuclear weapon." On the race to replace Johnson, he said, "We'll stay out of it."