Trump says he’s not thinking about Americans’ finances ‘even a little bit’ in Iran talks
President Donald Trump told reporters Tuesday that he was not weighing the economic burden of the war in Iran on ordinary Americans as he negotiated a deal with the country’s leaders.
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Speaking on the South Lawn of the White House before leaving for a diplomatic trip to China, Trump was asked to what extent “the financial situation of the American people” motivated him to strike a deal with Iran.
“Not even a little bit,” Trump replied. “The only thing that matters when I talk about Iran is that they can’t have nuclear weapons. I don’t think about the financial situation of the Americans. I don’t think about anyone. I think about one thing: we can’t let Iran have nuclear weapons. That’s all.”
A reporter asked if he wasn’t really thinking about the economic impact of the war.
“By far the most important thing – including if our stock market, which, by the way, is at an all-time high – but including if our stock market goes up or down a little bit, the most important thing by far is that Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon.”
“All Americans understand,” he added.
Since the United States and Israel launched joint strikes against Iran in late February, Iran has blocked access to the Strait of Hormuz, a waterway through which about 20 percent of the world’s oil supply typically passes each day.
As a result, gas prices in the United States have skyrocketed. The national average price of regular unleaded gasoline was $4.50 per gallon Tuesday, while the price of diesel fuel was $5.64 per gallon, according to an AAA tracker.
Rising fuel prices have rippled through the U.S. economy, with inflation reaching 3.8% in April, its highest level in nearly three years, according to data released Tuesday by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The increase in energy costs, according to the agency, “accounts for more than forty percent of the monthly increase in all items.”
Job growth actually beat expectations last month, according to the agency’s April jobs report released last week, while U.S. stock indexes hit wartime records.
But Americans have overwhelmingly expressed dissatisfaction with the economy under Trump. A CNN/SSRS survey conducted between April 30 and May 4 found that 70 percent of Americans disapprove of Trump’s handling of the economy. This is the highest figure recorded by the investigator during Trump’s two terms. During his first term, this figure never exceeded 50%.
Additionally, an NBC News Decision Desk poll released last month found that two-thirds of respondents disapproved of Trump’s handling of inflation, as well as his handling of the Iran conflict.
Trump on Sunday rejected Iran’s latest offer to end the conflict, calling it “unacceptable.” He added Monday that the ongoing ceasefire was “on life support.”
