Trump, by contrast, maintained that the war was the right decision and that the GOP would have won if his name had been on the ballot. “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,” Trump told Politico. He also said, “I don’t blame anybody,” but his approval rating has remained below 40% since April 2026.

The AP Voter Poll found that about six in 10 voters said the U.S. made the “wrong decision” in taking military action against Iran. Most of those dissatisfied with the war supported Democratic candidates in their House races. Only about one-third of voters said the war was “crucial” to their vote, compared to roughly half who cited the cost of living or government corruption.

In his post, Vance outlined four key steps for Republicans to win back voters: end the war, focus on the cost of living and inflation, put America first, and change the country’s relationship with Israel. Unlike Trump, Vance did not endorse Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for re-election and publicly criticized Israeli officials for opposing Trump’s efforts to resolve the war.

Crude oil prices fell sharply after Vance’s comments, with U.S. West Texas Intermediate dropping 8.3% and Brent crude futures falling 8.7%. Analysts suggested the market is betting that Trump may now be more inclined to pursue a deal to end the war, especially with Democrats now in control of Congress and able to pressure the administration.

Vance, who has not yet decided whether to run for president in 2028, appears to be positioning himself as a more moderate alternative to Trump. His criticism of the Iran war and his focus on domestic issues suggest he is trying to appeal to a broader electorate. Vance also appeared to distance himself from the administration’s immigration policies, suggesting openness to changes in enforcement strategies.