President Donald Trump on Tuesday gave his two cents to a reporter who asked to what extent “Americans’ financial situations are motivating” him to strike a deal to end his unpopular Iran war.
His answer? “Not even a little bit.”
“The only thing that matters when I’m talking about Iran, they can’t have a nuclear weapon,” he told reporters on the White House lawn.
“I don’t think about Americans’ financial situation. I don’t think about anybody.”
He continued, “I think about one thing: We cannot let Iran have a nuclear weapon. That’s all. That’s the only thing that motivates [me].”
Consumer prices have jumped and gas prices have surged by 50% since the start of the conflict in late February, figures that have buried a president who once promised to eradicate inflation (among other economic promises) on day one of his second term.
His comments arrived on the same day the latest CNN/SSRS poll found 77% of Americans blamed Trump’s policies for increasing the cost of living in their communities.
That includes 55% of GOP respondents who pointed the finger at the president for a rise in living expenses.
The poll also found that 70% of Americans disapproved of Trump’s handling of the economy, while 79% of respondents disapproved of his handling of gas prices.
More than half of Republicans disapproved of his handling of prices at the pump (52%), as well.
Social media users on X were stunned by Trump’s comments, including a number of critics who suggested Democratic candidates should use his quote in their ads ahead of the midterms.
Anthony Orrico contributed reporting.