Trump Doubles Down On Prioritizing Iran War Over Americans’ Financial PainsNick Naulty
Contributor
May 16, 2026 10:15 AM ET
President Donald Trump doubled down on his claim that the financial pain of Americans is not a consideration when seeking to deny Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons, calling his previous admission to that effect “a perfect statement.”
Trump initially told Daily Caller White House Correspondent Reagan Reese that the financial situations of Americans were “not even a little bit” of a factor when pressuring to Iran to resolve the ongoing conflict with a diplomatic solution. The comments came as Americans are feeling the pain of the war’s economic effects, such as higher gas and food prices. Trump defended the remarks he made during a Friday interview with Fox News’s Bret Baier.
https://twitter.com/Acyn/status/2055413900427092185During the interview, Baier pressed Trump on his blunt admission.
“You can imagine how many people stop the sound bite at, ‘I don’t think about Americans’ financial situation,’ so what’s your response to that framework?” Baier asked.
“That’s right, that’s a perfect statement,” Trump said. “I would make it again.” The president then added his view that preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon outweighs the short-term economic impacts.
“It’s very simple: when people hear me say it, everybody agrees,” Trump continued. “Short-term pain. It’s gonna be short-term pain.”
Gas prices have skyrocketed roughly 50% since the start of the war with Iran, with the national average at the time of writing hovering around $4.52 per gallon.
more
https://dailycaller.com/2026/05/16/donald-trump-doubles-down-iran-war-consideratiom-americans-financial-pain-gas-prices-fox-news-bret-baier/
