Massive rebuke to Trump ::::: Democrats win Senate control ::::: Trump acknowledges Iran war played a role in midterms

A blue wave appeared to take hold across the country, Donald Trump said he was prepared to accept the results.  

While the vote was widely seen as a referendum on his leadership, Trump insisted on social media: “I wasn’t on the Ballot and if I was, we would have won IN A LANDSLIDE!”

It came as series of stunning defeats for his party in former Republican strongholds saw Democrats retake control in the US Senate. Democrats are widely also expected to take control of the House of Representatives.

Kanas elected a Democrat, Adam Hamilton, to the Senate for the first time since 1932. Texas elected a Democrat, James Talarico, to the Senate for the first time since 1988. And in South Carolina, a Democrat, Annie Andrews, won a Senate seat for the first time since 1998.  

Democrat James Talarico made a Democrat’s first statewide victory in Texas in more than three decades. “The people of Texas were my slingshot,” he told a crowd in Austin. “And tonight, we defeated Goliath.”

Talarico’s win comes as Trump endorsed scandal-ridden Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton over incumbent John Cornyn. The race saw record-breaking spending topping half a billion dollars, with the majority coming from trillionaire donor Elon Musk, who spent at least $212m supporting Paxton.

Trump acknowledges Iran war played a role in midterms

More now from the president, who was speaking to Fox News a short while ago.

Trump addresses reports that the US is planning a strike on parts of Iran.

"We have to do something large," he tells Fox News, adding that it could involve a "heavy hit".
"They will never have a nuclear weapon," the president says.

He then goes on to acknowledge that gas prices hurt Republicans during the midterm races – saying people "didn't like it" when they had to pay more for fuel.  Concerns over the cost of living, rising fuel prices and an unpopular war with Iran loomed large over the campaign. Trump’s approval rating has slumped to record lows, saddling Republicans with an unenviable task as they defend narrow majorities in both chambers of Congress.

Trump has held 30 campaign rallies over the past month. The 80-year-old’s speeches have been strewn with lies, prejudice, repetitions and ruminations on men’s physiques including the “ass” of the Ohio senator Jon Husted. His closing address at the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool on Monday focused mainly on algae, granite, re-caulking and grass.

In remarks apparently aimed at swaying largely Democratic-leaning voters unhappy with US support for Israel, Trump said the US would stop $4bn in annual funding to Israel after the end of this ⁠year. 

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