President Trump doesn’t consider economic concerns in Iran talks
President Donald Trump told reporters that the economic situation of Americans is not factored into his decisions regarding Iran.
WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump said he is not concerned about Americans’ economic concerns about rising gasoline prices when negotiating a deal with Iran, only about stopping Iran from building a nuclear weapon.
On May 12, President Trump was asked by reporters how much the economic situation of the American people was motivating him to reach a deal to end the war with Iran, and he said, “Not in the slightest.”
The president added, “I don’t care about the economic situation of Americans. I don’t care about anyone else. I only care about one thing: We can’t let Iran have nuclear weapons. That’s it.”
President Trump’s comments – made as the consumer price index rose 3.8% in April as a result of rising oil prices stemming from the Iran war, the highest inflation rate in three years – are sure to be received well by Democrats.
President Trump has expressed increasing frustration when asked about rising gas pump prices, a major political challenge for him and the Republican Party in the 2026 midterm elections. A CNN poll released on May 12 found that 70% of Americans disapprove of President Trump’s economic policies, the lowest point of his presidency.
President Trump countered concerns by claiming that oil prices are not as high as expected, but predicted that prices would “fall like a rock” once the Iran war ends.
“As soon as this war is over, and it won’t be long, oil prices will fall and the stock market, which is already at an all-time high, will go through the roof,” Trump said.
President Trump is scheduled to leave Washington for Beijing on May 11th, where he will participate in a high-stakes meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping.
The average price of a gallon of regular gasoline in the U.S. fell slightly on May 12 to $4.50, up nearly 38 cents from last month and $1.37 from last year, according to AAA. As of February 26, two days before the US launched its first airstrikes against Iran, the average price of gasoline nationwide was $2.98.
On May 11, President Trump supported asking Congress to suspend the 18.4% federal gas tax to ease pump prices. But rallying enough Democratic and Republican supporters to pass the nation’s first federal gasoline tax holiday may be a tall order.
X Contact Joey Garrison at @joeygarrison.
