The Cost of Empire: Why Trump Cannot End a War That Is Draining Americans

Given the enormous economic costs Americans have borne from Trump’s war on Iran and the political price Republicans paid in the 2026 Midterm Elections, Trump’s apparent willingness to reignite the conflict is puzzling.

Republican’s Decisive Loss

By midday November 6, 2026, the Republicans had lost seven Senate seats, 41 House seats, and 5 governorships, while Democrats had already secured control of both chambers of Congress, with two additional Senate seats potentially within reach. Over the course of the election, Trump appeared erratic, first suggesting he would become Mr. Veto before striking a conciliatory note and expressing willingness to work with the Democrats. Meanwhile, Vance, who was still bewildered by the extent of the loss, added that the rising cost of living and high gasoline prices also played a role in Republicans’ defeat. Surprisingly, both Trump and Vance seemed to agree that continuing the war was good because it would “prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons”. Notably, Iran has been and is still a signatory to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), while its late supreme leader had issued a religious edict barring the development of nuclear weapons despite the country possessing the necessary technology. Therefore, Trump’s and Vance’s justifications above are disingenuous and self-serving.

Costs to Citizens, Plunder to Elites

The war against Iran has significantly raised fuel prices for Americans. CNBC reported on October 9,........

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