Zac Anderson, Francesca Chambers, Zachary Schermele USA TODAY
WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump is under increasing pressure from members of his party to find a way out of the Iran war, with the midterms on the horizon and Republican voters souring on a conflict he once predicted would last just a handful of weeks.
Republicans are airing their frustrations publicly and privately about what they see as muddled messaging coming out of the administration on a conflict that has driven up prices for voters.
A growing number of prominent MAGA figures have urged Trump to end the conflict, saying there could be dire political consequences if it continues. Republican strategists have echoed those concerns, saying Iran is a major drag on the party heading into November.
Trump has alternated between threats and diplomatic overtures to get the job done, but the war is now approaching six months with no end in sight. Election Day is less than three months away, and the administration has resorted to insisting the fundamentals of the economy are strong.
But the rate of inflation remains higher than it was before the conflict began, or Trump took office, coming in at 3.4% last month. The war has pushed gas prices above $4 a gallon and driven up other costs, contributing to affordability concerns that are top of mind for many voters.
“It’s one of those issues where there’s almost no upside,” GOP pollster and Cygnal founder Brent Buchanan said…
Read the full article: https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2026/08/15/trump-iran-war-republicans-midterm-elections/91277119007/