Published by TrenBuzz.com | May 13, 2026 | DAY 74
Key Points at a Glance – Trump’s Most Controversial Iran Comment Yet
- On May 12, 2026, Trump told reporters that Americans’ financial situation was “not even a little bit” a motivating factor in Iran peace talks.
- He stated: “I don’t think about Americans’ financial situation. I don’t think about anybody. I think about one thing — we cannot let Iran have a nuclear weapon.”
- Gas prices hit $4.50 per gallon on May 12 — up from $2.98 two days before the Iran war began.
- Diesel costs $5.64 per gallon — devastating for trucking, food delivery, and logistics.
- US inflation surged to 3.8% in April — the highest since May 2023 — with energy driving 40% of the increase.
- 70% of Americans disapprove of Trump’s handling of the economy — the lowest approval mark of either of his terms.
- 63% of Americans blame Trump personally for high gas prices, per PBS/NPR/Marist poll.
- 75% of Americans disapprove of Trump’s handling of the cost of living — only 23% approve.
- Trump said prices will “drop like a rock” once the Iran war ends.
- He also floated a federal gas tax holiday — cutting the 18.4 cents/gallon federal gas tax — calling it a “long shot” to pass Congress.
Four words. Fourteen syllables. And possibly the most politically damaging statement of Donald Trump’s second term.
President Donald Trump told reporters on Tuesday that he is not weighing the economic burden of the Iran war on everyday Americans when negotiating a deal with the country’s leadership. “Not even a little bit,” Trump replied. “The only thing that matters when I’m talking about Iran — they can’t have a nuclear weapon. I don’t think about Americans’ financial situation. I don’t think about anybody. I think about one thing — we cannot let Iran have a nuclear weapon. That’s all.”
The Numbers Behind the Statement
Trump’s remarks came as the consumer price index surged 3.8% in April, the largest increase in inflation in three years, as a result of increasing oil costs stemming from the Iran war. The average price of a gallon of regular gas in the United States dropped slightly on May 12 to $4.50 — up nearly 38 cents from last month and $1.37 from last year. Average gas prices were $2.98 nationally on Feb. 26, two days before the United States launched its first airstrikes against Iran.
Since the US and Israel launched joint strikes on Iran in late February, Iran has blocked access to the Strait of Hormuz, a waterway through which about 20% of the world’s oil supply typically transits every day. As a result, gas prices in the US have spiked. The national average price of regular unleaded gas stood at $4.50 per gallon on Tuesday, while diesel fuel was $5.64 per gallon, according to AAA.
The Polls — Trump’s Economic Credibility Is Collapsing
A recent poll from ABC News/Washington Post/Ipsos found about two-thirds of Americans (65%) disapproved of how Trump is handling the economy. About three-quarters of Americans disapprove of how he’s handling the cost of living in the US (76%) with just about a quarter approving (23%). Nearly as many disapprove of how he’s handling inflation (72%), up from 65% who disapproved in February.
A PBS News/NPR/Marist poll last week found 63% of Americans blame Trump for high gas prices.
Rubio’s Defense — The Nuclear $9-a-Gallon Argument
Secretary of State Marco Rubio argued that if Iran attained nuclear weapons, it could manipulate markets and drive oil prices up further. “If Iran had a nuclear weapon and they decided to close the straits and make our gas prices like $9 a gallon or $8 a gallon, we wouldn’t be able to do anything about it, because they have a nuclear weapon,” Rubio said in a White House briefing.
The Gas Tax Holiday Lifeline — And Why It May Not Pass
Trump on May 11 endorsed asking Congress to temporarily suspend the 18.4% federal gas tax to alleviate prices at the pump. Yet getting enough Democrats and Republicans on board to pass the nation’s first-ever federal gas tax holiday could be a long shot.
Trump said the “most important thing by far — including whether our stock market, which, by the way, is at an all-time high — but including whether our stock market goes up or down a little bit, the most important thing by far is Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon. Every American understands.”
Democrats Pounce — Schumer’s Two-Word Response
Democrats quickly responded to Trump’s comment. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer reshared a video of Trump’s comments on X and captioned his post: “We can tell.”
Trump has countered concerns by arguing the price of oil is not as high as he expected, while predicting prices will “drop like a rock” once the war in Iran concludes. “As soon as this war is over — which will not be long — you’re going to see oil prices drop and you’re going to see a stock market, which is already at the highest point in history, go through the roof,” Trump said.
The war started when gas cost $2.98. It now costs $4.50. The president says he isn’t thinking about that — not even a little bit. In November 2026, voters will decide how much they think about it.
Disclaimer: This article is for general informational and news reporting purposes only. All quotes are verbatim from Trump’s May 12, 2026 South Lawn press availability. All polling data, inflation figures, and gas price data are sourced from CNN, CBS News, ABC News, PBS NewsHour, AAA, the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, and the Detroit News as of May 12–13, 2026. TrenBuzz.com does not represent any government or political party. Readers are encouraged to follow credible news and official government sources for real-time updates.