Trump sparks fury as he shrugs off rocketing gas prices as ‘peanuts’

President Donald Trump is shrugging off spiking gas prices amid the ongoing war with Iran that now threatens to drag into the summer.

Twelve weeks into a war that the President originally projected would last just six, Trump said he was in no rush to end the conflict. 

‘I’m in no hurry. Everyone is saying, “Oh, the midterms.” I’m in no hurry,’ Trump said in response to a question about striking a deal to open the Strait of Hormuz. 

Vice President JD Vance struck a similar tone on Tuesday during a White House press briefing, arguing that the Iran conflict is not a ‘forever war.’ 

He added that the administration is ‘very aware’ of rising gas prices, noting they are a ‘temporary’ increase. 

As the conflict extends and US gas prices continue to rise, the official line from the administration is that Americans should embrace higher costs in exchange for a non-nuclear Islamic Republic. 

According to the latest Daily Mail/JL Partners poll, 59 percent of voters now say the economy is getting worse, a three-point jump from last month. 

And per the AAA, the national average for a gallon of regular gasoline stands at $4.56, up from $2.98 before the conflict. That represents a 53 percent increase since the end of February. 

For an average family car with a 14-gallon tank, each stop at the gas station now costs about $22 more than before the war began.  

President Donald Trump said he is in ‘no hurry’ to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and end the Iran war on Wednesday morning. The day before, he downplayed rising gas prices: ‘This is peanuts’

The current price of gasoline is shown at a gas station in Encinitas, California, May 11, 2026. The average price of a gallon of regular gas in California is $6.15, per AAA data. The national average is $4.56, up 53 percent since the start of the Iran war

Members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) participate in a military exercise aimed at ‘increasing combat capabilities’ in Tehran province, Iran, on May 12, 2026

Pressed on ballooning fuel costs on Tuesday, the billionaire President downplayed the pain at the pump, saying ‘This is peanuts!’

Trump added that he appreciates Americans ‘putting up’ with the increased prices. 

‘Gas is projected to cost households over $740 extra this year,’ House Democrats on the Ways and Means Committee posted on social media. ‘An extra $740 bill for you = “peanuts” to Donald Trump.’

House Democratic Whip Katherine Clark wrote: ‘The next time you’re at the gas pump, remember this: Trump just said out loud he doesn’t “even think about” your skyrocketing prices.’ 

Senator Jeanne Shaheen similarly posted: ‘POTUS isn’t paying for this war. Middle class Americans are, and he couldn’t care less.’ 

But it’s not just gas prices that are on the rise. 

Consumer inflation for all goods jumped in April compared to a year earlier, rising 3.8 percent. 

The cost for food eaten at home rose 2.9 percent in April compared to the same month a year ago. It was the highest year-over-year inflation rate for the category since August 2023. 

Gas prices are displayed at a gas station in Wheeling, Illinois, Thursday, May 14, 2026

Air travel has also taken off in the last year. 

According to travel firm Kayak, the average domestic round-trip flight cost was up 18 percent in April compared to the year prior. 

Though the President has argued that gas prices will ‘drop like a rock’ after the war concludes, higher inflation may still perturb voters ahead of the midterm elections later this year.

Consistently, economic concerns rank among the top priorities of voters in election years. Recent polling paints a glum picture for congressional Republicans looking to hold onto power in November. 

Voters are feeling the pinch in their bank accounts, with nearly half, 48 percent, saying recent gas price increases have either somewhat or significantly eaten into their savings. Twenty-six percent report a significant hit.

However, 15 percent say the fuel costs have slightly chipped away at their savings account. Another 22 percent say their savings have been untouched.

Pressed last week on whether Americans’ financial situations are motivating him to make a deal with Iran to end the war, Trump responded, ‘Not even a little bit.’ 

‘I don’t think about Americans’ financial situation,’ he continued.