President Donald Trump said he is “not even a little bit” worried about Americans’ finances when he’s negotiating with Iran on a potential deal. The president reiterated that his biggest concern is the country not obtaining a nuclear weapon.
“Not even a little bit,” the president said. “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 situations, I don’t think about anybody, I think about one thing, we cannot let Iran have a nuclear weapon. That’s all,” Trump added while speaking with reporters before heading on his trip to China to meet with President Xi Jinping.
Trump’s remark sparked an avalanche of criticism online from prominent Democrats, including California Governor Gavin Newsom, Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro, and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries.
Trump’s remark could potentially compound headwinds for the White House and GOP amid public concern over the cost of living and the war with Iran heading into the November midterm elections.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) also released a report on Tuesday showing inflation jumped to its highest level in either of Trump’s terms.
What To Know
When asked to clarify his remarks, 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 or not 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, and they just had a poll, like 85 percent, which is surprising it’s only that, they understand that Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon. If Iran has a nuclear weapon, the whole world would be in trouble, because they happen to be crazy. They’re not going to have a nuclear weapon,” Trump added later.
He continued to note that “when it’s over,” there will be a “massive drop” in oil prices, the stock market will rise, and there will be a “golden age” for Americans.
In response to the Democratic backlash, White House Communications Director Steven Cheung told Newsweek via email, “The President’s ultimate responsibility is the safety and security of Americans. Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon, and if action wasn’t taken, they’d have one, which threatens all Americans.”
What Did Democratic Lawmakers Say
Newsom’s Press Office said on X, “We’re so lucky to have a President who is always looking out for the American people.”
Shapiro also said, “Gas is over $4.60/gallon in Pennsylvania today. Donald Trump’s chaos continues to jack up costs and make life harder for everyone — and he literally doesn’t give a damn.”
Illinois Governor JB Pritzker said, “’Not even a little bit.’ Trump doesn’t care if you can afford groceries or gas.”
New Jersey Senator Cory Booker posted a video on X reacting to Trump’s remark, saying, “Donald Trump is a disaster. He does not care about the economic pain he is causing Americans. Now”
Jeffries said on X, “The reckless Republican war of choice in Iran is crushing the financial situation of the American people. Donald Trump just made clear he doesn’t give a damn. At what point have you had enough?”
In an emailed statement to Newsweek on Tuesday, DNC Communications Director Rosemary Boeglin said, “Donald Trump just said the quiet part out loud: he doesn’t care about Americans who are struggling to make ends meet in his economy. Trump has made the economy a living hell for working families, with prices for gas, groceries, and healthcare skyrocketing, jobs becoming harder to find, and families dipping further into their savings or going into debt just to get by. The financial pain Americans are feeling is a direct result of Trump’s policies — yet he’s leaving them high and dry while sticking them with the bill for his deadly and costly war with Iran, his $1 billion White House ballroom, and tax breaks for billionaires.”
The Democratic Party’s X account said, “BREAKING NEWS: TRUMP IS HONEST FOR THE FIRST TIME.”
Georgia U.S. Senator Raphael Warnock also chimed in, “Yea. We’ve noticed.”
Democratic Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi of California said on X Tuesday, “Has it ever been clearer that Donald Trump doesn’t care about you? As he said, not even a little bit.”
Independent Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont said on X, “Of course Trump, the narcissist in chief, doesn’t think about the financial situation of Americans. To Trump, it doesn’t matter that the working class is struggling economically. What matters to Trump is that his family got $4 billion richer since he was elected. That’s it.”
What Polls Show
In a new poll from The Economist/YouGov on Tuesday, 30 percent support the war in Iran and 55 percent oppose it.
The poll shows that 36 percent think Trump is effective in his negotiations with Iran, versus 64 percent who think he is ineffective. The poll surveyed 1,549 U.S. adults from May 9 to May 11 and has a margin of error of 3.5 percent.
In a recent Fox News national survey, 36 percent of registered voters approve of Trump’s job performance on Iran, versus 64 percent who disapprove. The poll shows that 47 percent said things are going well in Iran, versus 52 percent who did not agree.
The poll was taken from March 20 to March 23 among 1,001 registered voters, with a 3 percent margin of error.
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