Days after Republicans took bruising losses in the midterms, President Trump went on 60 Minutes and refused to back away from the Iran war. Asked whether he would do it all again, he gave an "emphatic yes" and said Iran simply cannot be allowed to have a nuclear weapon. He even admitted it might not look like a good decision for today or tomorrow, but argued history will see it as a very good one. In his words, "I have to go with what's right for our country." He added that if Iran had gotten a nuclear weapon during his term, he would have faced far harsher criticism than he does now, and he claimed he has stopped them from getting one.

The comments came as Trump said he doesn't disagree with Vice President JD Vance's view that the war, rising costs and Israel ties helped fuel the Republican losses. Trump also acknowledged that voters didn't like the war or the surge in gas prices it triggered. The war began in February, and since September the U.S. and Iran have largely held off major attacks, though the U.S. carried out limited strikes this week. Trump left the door open to more military action but suggested it's unlikely if peace talks progress. Big questions remain about whether Iran's nuclear program has been set back or truly ended, especially since the U.S. is still offering up to $20 million for information about it, and about whether voters will ever see the "historic" payoff Trump is promising.