Trump says 'a lot of people didn't like' Vance's criticism of Iran war after crushing midterm defeat... but challenges vice president to answer one question

President Donald Trump has claimed that 'a lot of people' were unhappy with JD Vance's criticism of the Iran war, while revealing the one question he wants his vice president to answer after Republicans suffered a crushing midterm election defeat.

Trump insisted his relationship with Vance remained strong despite the vice president publicly blaming the eight-month conflict for the party's disastrous election performance.

But speaking to reporters before boarding Air Force One back to Washington D.C. on Sunday night, the president said Vance had failed to make one crucial point: whether he would still support going to war with Iran if given the opportunity to make the decision again.

Asked whether Vance's comments questioning the administration's decisions had damaged their relationship, Trump was adamant.

'No, not at all. But a lot of people didn't like his comments, but not me,' the president insisted.

'He was right other than one thing,' Trump continued, arguing that Vance should have addressed whether the controversial military campaign had been worth launching.

'If you had to do it again, would you do it again? The answer is "yes",' Trump said.

'I can tell you if I had to do it again this historically, for history this will go down as one of the best things we ever did because if they ever had a nuclear weapon, they would blow up the world - you know why? 'Cause they're crazy.'

President Donald Trump told reporters on Sunday night that 'a lot of people' disliked JD Vance's comments blaming the Iran war for Republicans' midterm defeat

Trump insisted his relationship with Vice President JD Vance remained strong despite their differing assessments of the controversial war in Iran. The pair are pictured in July of this year

The war in Iran has become a major political headache for the Trump administration, with Vance blaming the conflict for Republicans' crushing election losses. Pictured, smoke and flames rise at the site of airstrikes on an oil depot in Tehran in March

The exchange came just hours after Trump was pressed about the same issue during a wide-ranging interview with CBS 60 Minutes, in which he acknowledged that Vance's assessment of the Republican defeat was not necessarily wrong.

Trump appeared determined to play down suggestions of a rift during the interview.

When correspondent Ross Douthat asked whether he agreed with Vance's analysis of the election, including his criticism of America's relationship with Israel, Trump replied: 'I don't disagree.'

The president then returned to the question he believed his vice president had failed to answer on the Iran War.

'The only thing I wish he would've said there, if he felt it and you'd have to ask him about that, but "If you had to do it again, would you do it?",' Trump said.

'You know he was part of a decision-making process and my answer is an emphatic "yes" because you can't let Iran have a nuclear weapon.'

Trump acknowledged that the decision might not appear politically advantageous in the short term but insisted history would ultimately vindicate him.

'I think historically this will be a very good decision. Is it a good decision for today and tomorrow? Maybe not, but you know I have to go with what's right for our country,' he said.

Trump told CBS's 60 Minutes on Sunday night that he did not disagree with Vance's analysis but insisted the decision to attack Iran would ultimately be vindicated by history

Vance warned that former Trump supporters had turned against Republicans over the Iran war, rising living costs and Washington's relationship with Israel. Vance is seen last month in Texas

The president maintained that allowing Iran to obtain a nuclear weapon would have been a far greater failure.

Vance, who is widely regarded as a potential contender for the 2028 Republican presidential nomination, stunned political observers on Wednesday when he explicitly blamed the war for the GOP's loss of both chambers of Congress.

'The reason we lost is the war. The president himself said so last night,' Vance wrote in a lengthy post to X.

The vice president cited polling showing that Americans who supported Trump in 2024 had turned against Republicans over the conflict, rising living costs and Washington's relationship with Israel.

According to Vance, a pollster had identified four principal demands among disillusioned Trump voters: ending the war, tackling inflation, putting America First and changing America's relationship with Israel.

'Our voters showed up. And the above four reasons are why many of them voted for Democrats,' Vance wrote.

He also challenged those who believed the military campaign had been justified to acknowledge its devastating political consequences.

'If you'd like to argue it was worth it, that losing the Senate for the next 6 years was worth it, then do so,' he declared. 'Argue it was a worthwhile cost to pay. Agree or disagree, that's at least honest.'

President Donald Trump is seen speaking to reporters before boarding Air Force One in West Palm Beach, Florida on Sunday night

Trump challenged his vice president to answer whether he would support launching the Iran war again, insisting he would make the same decision

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The unusually direct assessment raised questions about whether the vice president was attempting to distance himself from Trump's increasingly unpopular foreign policy ahead of a possible presidential run.

Iran, meanwhile, has consistently maintained that its nuclear program is intended for peaceful purposes, although international inspectors have raised concerns about its stockpile of highly enriched uranium.

Diplomatic efforts have so far struggled to bring the conflict to a lasting resolution.

Trump has also warned that American forces have identified dozens of Iranian infrastructure targets, including 38 bridges, that could be struck if major hostilities resume.

US forces have continued conducting limited military operations, including strikes against Iranian air defenses, despite efforts to revive diplomacy.