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Ron DeSantis has appeared to hit out at Donald Trump over his war with Iran as Republicans suffer huge midterm elections defeats. The outgoing Governor of Florida suggested members of his party had been brushing over higher fuel prices after the United States and Israel attacked the Middle Eastern state in February. Mr DeSantis, who ran against Mr Trump for the Republican nomination for President, said on the Straight Shooter with Stephen A. podcast: “So here’s the thing with Iran and why I think it’s been a big, big drag. You know, it was launched. He obviously ran saying he wasn’t going to do a Middle East war, where he did.

“We have some of our voters who’ve checked out because they’re like, I didn’t want any more Middle East wars and now we’re doing it. Had that been wrapped up in like a week — like Venezuela was very quick — people, it probably wouldn’t have been an issue right now, right?

“But what’s happened is, it’s kind of an open-ended conflict and it’s having a direct impact on people’s finances because they’re going to the gas pump. They’re seeing energy prices have gone up. And you know, I made a comment this weekend when I was campaigning for our attorney general candidate. And some of these Republicans are saying, ‘Oh, well the gas, don’t worry. You know, it’s no big deal.’

“Like, or they’re trying to blame Biden […] Listen, we just got to be honest. Gas is higher. It hurts people, working class people, and it’s higher because of this conflict. That’s just the fact. If you can’t admit that to voters, then you’re gaslighting them, and they’re not going to listen to you on other things.

“So, I think what’s gonna happen is, so I think what’s going to happen is he obviously, I think, has not wanted to do anything leading up to the midterm. So what happens after the midterms to bring the Iran conflict to a conclusion? Because I can tell you he’s been advised and I think you’ve probably seen the reports where there people have told him this is going to drag on for the rest of his presidency.

“If it drags on for the rest of his presidency, it’s going to be devastating to his ability to get anything done and it is going to be very, very difficult for Republicans in the next cycle.”

The President has suggested that higher gasoline prices are a short-term price to pay for the conflict. Mr Trump told Fox News, reflecting on the results: “People agree with what I’m doing in Iran, but they really, probably weren’t willing to do the short-term consequence of paying more for gasoline.”

He added: “And you know, I understand that. I don’t agree with it, and I would say to people, you know: ‘It’s a short-term problem but for long-term gain.”