Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi claimed Americans are disgusted with Israel after US President Donald Trump said growing public dissatisfaction with Israel contributed to the Republican Party's losses in the 2026 midterm elections. Araghchi stated that voters were weary of US involvement in prolonged conflicts in the Middle East and accused Israel of drawing successive American administrations into endless wars.
Araghchi's remarks arrived after Trump offered an assessment of why Republicans suffered sweeping defeats in the November midterm elections, losing control of both the House of Representatives and the Senate. The Iranian minister did not directly address Trump's broader comments on Iran's nuclear program or the military campaign, instead framing the US election setback as evidence of growing opposition to Washington's close alignment with Israel.
Posting on social media shortly after excerpts of Trump's interview circulated, Araghchi wrote that the president clearly recognizes the vast majority of Americans are frustrated with Israel, though he questioned why the administration remains confused about the underlying causes. He added that Americans are tired of foreign entanglements and that the region shares that exhaustion.
During an interview with CBS News, Trump conceded that several issues hurt Republican candidates, pointing specifically to the war with Iran, higher gasoline prices, and a noticeable dislike for Israel among voters. The president also insisted that his absence from the ballot played a major role in the defeat, noting that while supporters attended his rallies, they did not necessarily transfer that energy to local Republican candidates or simply stayed home. Exit polls indicated that a significant majority of midterm voters disapproved of Trump's job performance.
Despite acknowledging the political cost, Trump defended his decision to launch military action against Iran earlier. He agreed that the conflict contributed to the Republican defeat but maintained he would make the same decision again to prevent Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon. Trump argued the decision would be judged favorably by history, though he noted he is not looking to escalate the war following the midterms.