00:00Big statement coming in now by Vice President J.D. Wans.
00:06He has blamed war for Republican losses and he has said that Trump wants 2024 voters turned to Democrats.
00:15J.D. Wans saying that the main problem is not turnout, but Trump wants voters switching to Democrats.
00:21He's accepted it. He's also said war inflation, Israel policy drove Republicans away.
00:27A lot of acceptance here that is coming in for reasons as to why they lost.
00:34He has also said that Republicans lost despite strong turnout as Trump 2024 voters backed Democrats.
00:41And he has identified four reasons, which are war, inflation, America first policy and Israel policy.
00:49Let me bring in the guests who are joining me now.
00:54We have Alec Tyson, Senior Vice President and lead pollster of Ipsos.
00:59He's joining me from Washington, D.C.
01:02We also have Geeta Mohan, our group editor of Foreign Affairs, joining us.
01:07Geeta, a word from you on this because here is J.D. Wans accepting the four reasons which he says
01:14are the reasons for war.
01:17Well, this is brilliant, Mara. This is American politics at its best.
01:23J.D. Wans was the man who had opposed America going to war with Iran.
01:29He made that decision and he was absolutely anti-war.
01:33It is because he has a future and he sees his future in the presidential race, the next presidential race.
01:40And he knew very well that if the country goes to war, that the ones who would be paying for
01:46it are the ones who will be fighting the next presidential race.
01:50And now he's actually come out and said that in no uncertain words, that it's the war that has led
01:56to the loss of Republican votes and Republican majority in the House as also in the Senate.
02:04So he's playing a very smart game. He's distancing himself from the decision made by Trump administration, although he serves
02:13under President Trump and he'll continue to do that.
02:18But he's made his political pitch over here saying that he was not responsible.
02:23He never wanted the wars. And therefore, this is his pitch to the presidential race in two years.
02:29Absolutely. Fascinating how it is turning out to be his own circle turning against him.
02:34That's how politics is, isn't it, Geeta Mohan? Really appreciate your time. Thank you so much for joining us.
