After a shaky ceasefire with Iran and further peace talks that went nowhere, President Donald Trump acknowledged that high oil and gas prices may continue through the November mid-term elections.
That's a departure from his previous stance that the spike was temporary, and experts say it could be a crucial issue for voters turning out at the polls in November. That's when they'll decide control of the House and Senate.
And Trump's agenda would be at risk if the Democrats sweep Republicans out of control.
Now that the stakes are set, note that the average price of gas has surpassed $4 per gallon as the U.S. wages war on Iran. A ceasefire was declared last week, then word came that Iran was blocking the Strait of Hormuz, which is a critical passage for oil.
“So, do you believe the price of oil and gas will be lower before the midterm elections?” Fox News’s Maria Bartiromo asked Trump in an interview on “Sunday Morning Futures.”
“I hope so. I mean, I think so, it could be, it could be, or the same or maybe a little bit higher, but it should be around the same,” Trump responded.
“I think this won’t be that much longer,” the president added, talking about the U.S. conflict against Iran. “They’re wiped out, Maria, they’re wiped out.”
Trump announced a blockade of the Strait of Hormuz in response to Iran first blocking it, and then trying to force ships to pay a toll to pass. Vice President JD Vance went there for peace talks, and returned, saying Iran would not agree to the U.S's demands.
Meanwhile, the conflict with Iran has led to global economic turmoil and a decline in Trump's approval ratings, raising concerns among Republicans about potential losses in the upcoming elections.
The Hill noted that Democrats have sought to use the issue of affordability against Republicans, with many, including Democratic Senator Mark Warner, questioning the effectiveness of Trump's proposed blockade.
On the other side, Republican Senator Ron Johnson warned that achieving U.S. goals in Iran could be a long-term endeavor, while the NY Times pointed out the peril of such messaging to the voting public.
"Douglas Heye, a Republican strategist, said Mr. Trump’s rhetoric was adding to Republicans’ headaches and making it harder for them to blame inflation on President Joseph R. Biden Jr.’s administration," the Times reported.
Could be crucial for the midterm elections
Could be crucial for the midterm elections
