Exclusive: Trump on rising gas prices during Iran operation: 'If they rise, they rise'

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: Reuters

March 5, 2026 2:04 PM EST Updated 1 hour ago


WASHINGTON, March 5 (Reuters) - President Donald Trump said on Thursday he was not concerned about rising U.S. gas prices driven by the widening Iran ​conflict, telling Reuters in an exclusive interview that the U.S. military operation was his priority.

"I don't have any concern about it," he said, when ‌asked about the higher prices at the pump. "They'll drop very rapidly when this is over, and if they rise, they rise, but this is far more important than having gasoline prices go up a little bit."

The comments mark a shift in tone for the president, who touted a drop in gas prices in his State of the Union address last month and at a Texas rally focused on energy ​that took place just hours before the U.S. launched its air strikes on Saturday. Political analysts say a persistent rise in gas prices could hurt Republicans in ​the November midterm elections when control of the U.S. Congress will be at stake.

Voters are already unhappy about the high cost of ⁠living and Trump's stewardship of the economy. White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles and Energy Secretary Chris Wright have both engaged with oil CEOs to gauge possible options on ​combating rising energy prices, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said on Thursday.

Read more: https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/trump-rising-gas-prices-during-iran-operation-if-they-rise-they-rise-2026-03-05/

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Spiked at $82.16 earlier and settled at $78.89 at the close.

[Norrrm]

1. Thank God Donald cut energy prices in half like he promised, eh?

Thank God Donald cut energy prices in half like he promised, eh?

https://www.bing.com/search?q=trump+cut+energy+prices+in+half&form=ANSPH1&refig=69a959a195b340bb990835e1c952f8e9&pc=U531

[Traildogbob]

2. If during the WAR gas prices

Rise, they rise.
And during the WAR that causes the rise, if troops fall, they fall. It happens.

[IronLionZion]

3. MAGA loves paying more for everything

Is he trying to destroy the GOP during this year's elections?

[DJ Synikus Makisimus]

4. It's not the Radical Left Democrats' fault?

Huh.

[pat_k]

5. Que sera, sera

[Martin68]

6. It's heartening to hear how blithely Trump accepts a steep rise in gas prices. Will he take a commensurate

loss in the midterms as blithely as that?

[LudwigPastorius]

7. "They'll drop very rapidly when this is over"

Last edited Fri Mar 6, 2026, 03:43 PM - Edit history (1)

U.S. military operations in the Middle East:

Afghanistan - just under 20 years
Somalia - about 19 years and counting
Yemen - 17 years and counting
Syria - 11 years and counting
Iraq - just under 9 years

I'll probably be dead before this one is over.

[Bengus81]

8. You fucking MAGA'S happy yet?? Getting tired again of all the winning?

Oh yeah...and all of those who could NOT pull a lever for a black woman for President which includes a LOT of Democrat voters you sure as shit showed everyone,didn't you?

[City Lights]

9. What a dick.

A mushroom dick, but a dick nonetheless.

[LetMyPeopleVote]

10. MaddowBlog-Maybe Trump's emphasis on gas prices wasn't such a good idea after all

As costs climb and Americans are introduced to the idea of “warflation,” the concept of “The Trump Effect” is taking on a very different kind of meaning.

Remember last week, when Trump emphasized gas prices in his State of the Union address and suggested Americans should judge him on this issue?

That wasn’t smart.

Yesterday, however, he managed to make things worse with false claims about “stabilizing” prices.
www.ms.now/rachel-maddo...

— Steve Benen (@stevebenen.com) 2026-03-06T16:09:27.739Z

https://www.ms.now/rachel-maddow-show/maddowblog/maybe-trumps-emphasis-on-gas-prices-wasnt-such-a-good-idea-after-all

In hindsight, the political calculus was misguided: The president knew he was poised to start a war in Iran, and he was almost certainly warned that the conflict would push oil prices higher. But Trump stuck his neck out anyway, effectively telling Americans to judge him on this issue.

A week later, it’s increasingly clear how not smart that was. MS NOW noted Thursday as part of the network’s live blog coverage:

Oil prices have risen about 20% this week, with U.S. crude oil at $82 per barrel this afternoon.

Consumers are seeing gasoline prices 27 cents higher since last week, up to $3.25 per gallon on average as of today, according to AAA.

Less than a week into the war, gas prices were up 11% as of late Thursday, and as Friday gets underway the news is no better......

What’s more, when the president wasn’t peddling nonsense, he was expressing indifference. “I don’t have any concern about it,” Trump told Reuters when asked about the higher prices at the pump. “They’ll drop very rapidly when this is over, and if they rise, they rise, but this is far more important than having gasoline prices go up a little bit.”

Whether American consumers find this persuasive remains to be seen.

Behind the scenes, Politico reported that administration officials are desperate to find ways to lower prices. But at this point, they appear short on ideas.....

As costs climb, and Americans are introduced to the idea of “warflation,” the concept of “The Trump Effect” is taking on a very different kind of meaning.

[BumRushDaShow]

11. A quick snapshot as of 3:05 pm ET

I was out today to run some errands and top off my car's tank (I was at 3/4 tank but wanted to go ahead and top it since the prices are rising) and I paid $3.39/gal where I live. That price was literally the same at almost every station out to ~5 miles into the 'burbs, where it finally dropped down to $3.09 at most of the stations along my route going a couple miles further out (to about 7 miles, which is as far as I went).

At post time, it is bouncing around $91/bbl.