JD Vance seeks to build ‘new right’ coalition among disillusioned Trump voters after midterm defeat, with Iran war and Israel ties at center of strategy
U.S. Vice President JD Vance is seeking to build a new political coalition among supporters of President Donald Trump who have grown dissatisfied with his foreign policy, particularly the war against Iran and Washington’s relationship with Israel, as Republicans confront their defeat in the November 3 midterm elections, Fox News Digital reported Wednesday.
The effort comes as Vance develops a political message ahead of the 2028 presidential election cycle without openly breaking with Trump, according to administration officials familiar with the discussions.
A White House meeting was held Wednesday morning to coordinate the administration’s response to the election results. One source described it as an effort to align officials on their public messaging, while another called it a regular senior staff meeting.
Following the meeting, Vance published a statement blaming the Republican defeat on the Iran war and urging his party to acknowledge the conflict’s political consequences.
“The reason we lost is the war,” Vance wrote, adding that Trump himself had acknowledged the conflict’s role in the election results.
The vice president cited a pollster who identified four priorities for winning back Republican voters: ending the war against Iran, addressing inflation and the cost of living, putting American interests first and changing Washington’s relationship with Israel.
A Trump administration official told Fox News Digital that these priorities formed the basis of Vance’s appeal to the “new right,” a coalition drawing on Trump’s original America First movement.
The official described the coalition’s priorities as avoiding foreign military conflicts, making everyday life more affordable for American families and enforcing stricter border controls.
The emerging alliance also includes Republicans who believe Trump has become too closely aligned with Israel, particularly over the war against Iran.
According to the official, Vance is not seeking a direct confrontation with the president but is addressing voters who continue to support Trump while disagreeing with his foreign policy decisions.
The official summarized the message being directed at those voters as: “Vance is our guy.”
Vance’s political positioning follows Republican losses in both chambers of Congress, with the Iran war and rising household expenses becoming major sources of criticism during the campaign.
The vice president is widely regarded as a potential contender for the Republican presidential nomination in 2028, although he has not formally announced a campaign.