Trump downplays rising gas prices amid escalating Iran conflict

US President Donald Trump said on March 5 that he is not concerned about rising gasoline prices in the United States, despite the escalating conflict with Iran. In an exclusive interview with Reuters, Trump emphasised that the ongoing US military operation in the region is his priority.

“I don’t have any concern about it,” Trump said when asked about higher prices at the pump. “They’ll drop very rapidly when this is over, and if they rise, they rise, but this is far more important than having gasoline prices go up a little bit.”

The remarks represent a shift in tone for Trump, who had highlighted falling gas prices during his State of the Union address last month and at a Texas energy-focused rally just hours before US airstrikes were launched on Saturday.

Political analysts warn that persistent increases in gas prices could pose challenges for Republicans ahead of the November midterm elections, when control of Congress is at stake. Voter dissatisfaction with the cost of living and the administration’s handling of the economy has already been noted.

Despite Trump’s public efforts to downplay the price rise, White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles and Energy Secretary Chris Wright have engaged with oil executives to explore options to stabilise fuel costs, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said on March 5.

A senior White House official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said energy and national security teams are scrambling to develop measures aimed at curbing gasoline prices. The official added that Wiles warned in internal meetings that failure to address rising fuel costs could be “catastrophic” for Republicans in the upcoming elections.

Trump has suggested a four-to-five-week timeline for the US military campaign against Iran. However, political and military experts have questioned the feasibility of this plan, noting that the US government has yet to clearly articulate its end goal while the conflict continues to spread across the region.