A large banner with US President Donald Trump, Vice President JD Vance and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was set on fire during a rally in Tehran, Iran after the Republican Party suffered major losses in the 2026 US midterm elections.
The incident happened on Wednesday evening, Nov. 4 at Enghelab Square in Tehran thousands of demonstrators turned up there for a rally to mark the anniversary of the takeover of the US Embassy in Tehran in 1979 and also as a forum for opposition to US and Israeli policies.
Banner Featuring Trump, Vance and Netanyahu
The banner featured Trump, Vance and Netanyahu. US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff was also shown. Demonstrators lit the banner on fire as crowds gathered around it.
The act reflected the strong political messaging directed at the US and Israel during the public gathering. They also burned American and Israeli flags and chanted against both countries.
Reuters and Al Jazeera reported on the footage of the incident. The images were picked up quickly because the demonstration came after a major political defeat for Trump’s Republican Party in the United States.
Republicans Face Major Midterm Election Setback
The banner-burning happened one day after US midterm elections on November 3, 2026. The Republican Party lost heavily and Democrats won big in Congress.
The results were widely seen as a defeat for Trump’s administration. The election result became political fodder outside the US too — especially countries that are directly affected by Washington’s foreign policy decisions.
Iranian political leaders also reacted to the results. Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said American voters had rejected the war and supported “what they said.
#WATCH | Tehran, Iran: Crowds burn a giant banner of US President Donald Trump, Vice President JD Vance, Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu and envoy Steve Witkoff. #Tehran #Iran #USMidterms #Trump https://t.co/sQMY6ZMLSW
— ekkadam (@ekkadam260772) November 5, 2026
Rally Marks Anniversary of 1979 US Embassy Takeover
The gathering at Enghelab Square wasn’t just a reaction to the US election results. It was also part of the annual demonstrations marking the 1979 takeover of the US Embassy in Tehran (a moment that would become a turning point in relations between the two countries).
The anniversary is often accompanied by large crowds and strong anti-US and anti-Israel messaging to Tehran. This year’s gathering took place as tensions between Iran, the US and Israel continued.
Political Message Beyond the Election Results
The burning of the banner showed how international observers were interpreting what was happening in the US midterm election. For demonstrators in Tehran, the Republicans’ losses meant an opportunity to criticize Trump’s leadership and Washington policies toward Iran.
However, the incident should be seen in the context of the annual rally and the long-standing tensions between countries — it was political opposition on display rather than any official change in US-Iran relations.
The event has been internationally reported: two major developments have come together in it – a big US electoral defeat for the Republican Party and Iran’s continued public opposition to American and Israeli policies.
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