WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump said he's not thinking about Americans' financial concerns about rising gas prices ‒ and is only worried about preventing Iran from building a nuclear weapon ‒ as he negotiates a deal with Iran.
"Not even a little bit," Trump told reporters May 12 when asked to what extent he's motivated by Americans' financial situation to reach a deal that ends the war in Iran.
"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 president added.
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Trump's remarks ‒ certain to be seized on by Democrats ‒ 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.
Trump has increasingly expressed frustrations when asked about rising prices at the gas pump, which pose a major political challenge for the president and Republicans during the 2026 midterm elections. A CNN poll released May 12 found 70% of Americans disapprove of Trump's handling of the economy, the lowest mark of his presidency.
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.
Trump left Washington on May 11 to travel to Beijing, where he plans to take part in a high-stakes meeting with China President Xi Jinping.
The average price of a gallon of regular gas in the United States dropped slightly on May 12 to $4.50, according to AAA, 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.
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 gas federal tax holiday could be a longshot.
Reach Joey Garrison on X @joeygarrison.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Trump says he doesn't think about Americans' finances 'even a little bit' in Iran talks
