Trump Doubles Down On Prioritizing Iran War Over Americans’ Financial Pains
President Donald Trump reiterated his assertion that Americans’ financial woes are not a factor in seeking to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons, calling his previous admission a “perfect statement.”
Trump initially told Reagan Reese, the Daily Caller’s White House correspondent, that America’s financial situation was “not even a little bit” a factor when he was pressuring Iran to resolve the ongoing conflict through a diplomatic solution. The comments come as Americans feel the economic consequences of the war, such as rising gasoline and food prices. Trump defended comments he made during an interview Friday with Fox News’ Bret Baier. (RELATED: Trump tells Daily Caller Reporter he’s not ‘thinking’ about Americans’ finances in war with Iran)
Trump told Baier he would make the statement again, arguing that preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon outweighs any short-term pain.
Wow Bret Baier plays up Trump’s statement in which he says he doesn’t think about Americans’ financial situation.
Trump’s response: That’s a perfect statement. I would do it again. pic.twitter.com/JTK278k7NF
– Acyn (@Acyn) May 15, 2026
“It’s very simple: When people hear me say it, everyone agrees,” Trump told Baier. “Short-term pain. It will be short-term pain.”
Gas prices have soared about 50 percent since the start of the war with Iran, with the national average at the time of writing hovering around $4.52 per gallon.
The economic pressure is linked to freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, a key oil chokepoint through which 34% of the world’s crude oil passes, according to the International Energy Agency.
The White House brought the Daily Caller News Foundation to the attention of an earlier statement from White House communications director Steven Cheung defending Trump’s comments.
“The president’s ultimate responsibility is the safety and security of Americans,” Cheung said Tuesday. “Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon, and if no action was taken, it would have one, which would threaten all Americans.”
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