President Trump downplayed rising gas prices, despite rising inflation being tied to his slipping polling numbers ahead of the November midterms, arguing that the hikes are temporary and that stopping Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons is more important.
| PULSE POINTS |
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: President Donald J. Trump dismissed rising gas prices as “peanuts” on Tuesday, even as new polling shows his approval rating sinking to just 37 percent, driven by concerns over his handling of inflation and the economy generally. 📺 DETAIL: Gas prices are averaging about $4.53 per gallon nationwide, driven higher by ongoing conflict with Iran and the resulting global supply disruptions. Analysts note Trump’s handling of inflation is viewed particularly poorly, with only 25 percent of Americans approving. Polling indicates this dissatisfaction is part of a sustained trend rather than a short-term fluctuation, contributing to concerns that energy costs and inflation could dominate voter sentiment heading into the November midterms. Despite the criticism, Trump emphasized in comments to the press that his focus on preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon, suggesting that the country’s economic issues are relatively trivial and only temporary. 💬 KEY QUOTE: “This is peanuts. I appreciate everybody putting up with it for a little while. But I don’t even think about it. What I think about is you can’t let Iran have a nuclear weapon.” – President Trump |
Trump on high gas prices: “This is peanuts. I appreciate everybody putting up with it for a little while. But I don’t even think about. What I think about is you can’t let Iran have a nuclear weapon.” pic.twitter.com/XUVyNUpspm
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) May 19, 2026
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