Live blog for the midterms: ++ Trump defends Iran war ++

Democratic Senator Jon Ossoff sharply criticized President Donald Trump after his re-election in the US state of Georgia. The American people have rejected the "depravity, corruption and incompetence" of a failed president on call, Ossoff said.

Ossoff was a prime target of Republican attacks during the campaign and was the only Democratic senator running for re-election in a state Trump won in 2024. Ossoff raised more than $100 million in campaign contributions. That has fueled speculation that he could run for president in 2028.

Florida's outgoing Republican Governor Ron DeSantis expects significantly more conflict in Washington after the Democrats' victories in the US midterm elections. “You’re going to see a lot more conflict between Congress and the administration,” DeSantis said. The chances of a Democratic-controlled Congress confirming Trump's nominees to the Supreme Court or ministries would be "zero."

Pope Leo XIV responded to the results of the US election with an appeal for the common good. "The political community exists for the sake of the common good," he said in Italian to hundreds of believers in St. Peter's Square. The exercise of political power must always be aimed at the common good and always have the well-being of the entire human family in mind. Leo voted himself in the US election. He's from Chicago.

Federal Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul expects continued constructive cooperation with the US government after the midterm elections in the USA. “I have a very good, intact relationship with my colleague Marco Rubio and Chancellor Merz with President Trump,” he said on ARD Brennpunkt. They are the first point of contact for the federal government. “But it is normal that Congress will also take on a stronger role in foreign policy than has been the case in the past two years,” said the CDU politician.

US House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries has called the midterm election results an "astonishing rebuke to MAGA extremism." At a press conference, he referred to US President Donald Trump's slogan "Make America Great Again". “This wasn’t just a blue wave,” Jeffries said of the election results. "It was an American tsunami." Jeffries also pointed to the party's gains in gubernatorial and Senate races. "This was a great victory for the Americans," he said.

US President Donald Trump says he is not thinking about firing his Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. When asked about this the day after his Republicans' debacle in the general election, he said: "No, I think he's doing a very good job."

CBS News had previously reported, citing people familiar with the matter, that Trump had asked his advisers after the election defeat whether Hegseth should remain in office.

The Iran war, which Trump started together with Israel, put an enormous strain on the Republicans during the election campaign. The resulting increase in fuel prices was one of the main concerns of Americans before the elections.

The winner of the US Senate election in Texas, James Talarico, wants to concentrate on everyday issues in the Senate and not seek political retaliation. The voters gave the Democrats “one last chance” to “deliver for them,” Talarico told CNN.

Asked whether the future Democratic-controlled Congress should begin impeachment proceedings against members of President Trump's administration, Talarico said: "They didn't send us to Washington for political retaliation." Voters wanted Democrats to lower the cost of living, fight corruption and get the economy back on track.

US President Donald Trump has admitted that the Iran war played a role in the midterms. “The Iran thing was something we had to do and we continue to do,” Trump said after his Republicans suffered numerous defeats in the midterm elections.

Vice President JD Vance had previously blamed the Iran war for the party's defeats. “The reason we lost is the war,” he wrote in a lengthy online post.

For technical reasons, the third part of the midterm live blog ends here. Here are the developments to read:

For technical reasons, the second part of the midterm live blog ends here. Here are the developments to read:

For technical reasons, the first part of the midterm live blog ends here. Here are the developments to read: