Overview
- Trump, who spoke to reporters Tuesday before flying to China, said he does not consider Americans’ financial situations in negotiations with Iran and that stopping a nuclear weapon is his only goal.
- Democratic leaders quickly amplified the quote for campaign ads and floor speeches, with Chuck Schumer and Hakeem Jeffries casting it as proof the White House is ignoring household costs.
- Republicans moved to contain the fallout as Vice President JD Vance said the comment was misrepresented and acknowledged “a lot of work” on the economy, while Speaker Mike Johnson argued reopening the Strait of Hormuz would ease gas prices.
- The latest data sharpened the stakes after Wednesday’s reports showed consumer prices up 3.8% year over year in April and producer prices up 6%, with AAA listing average gasoline near $4.50 a gallon and Trump floating a pause of the 18.4-cent federal gas tax that would need Congress.
- The Iran conflict has choked energy flows through the Strait of Hormuz, and talks remain stuck over U.S. demands to remove Iran’s highly enriched uranium versus Tehran’s offer to dilute some stockpiles, as Pentagon briefings put U.S. war costs near $29 billion.