Trump Downplays Rising Fuel Costs, Focuses on Iran Conflict

President says gas price increases are 'far more important' than military operation against Iran

Mar. 6, 2026 at 3:53am

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

In an exclusive interview with Reuters, President Donald Trump said he is not concerned about rising U.S. gas prices driven by the widening Iran conflict, stating that the military operation is his priority. Trump said the costs 'haven't risen very much' and that if they do rise, 'they rise, but this is far more important than having gasoline prices go up a little bit.'

Why it matters

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.

The details

Despite Trump's public efforts to play down the price rises, 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. The White House is betting the conflict with Iran - and the resulting pain at the gas pump - will prove short-lived, with energy advisers urging patience and warning that any intervention that fails to quickly bring down prices could rattle markets.

  • On Saturday, the U.S. launched air strikes against Iran.
  • Last month, Trump touted a drop in gas prices in his State of the Union address and at a Texas rally focused on energy.

The players

Donald Trump

The President of the United States.

Susie Wiles

The White House Chief of Staff.

Chris Wright

The U.S. Energy Secretary.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“I don't have any concern about it. 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.”

— Donald Trump

“Failure to act on price rises would be 'catastrophic' for Republicans in the elections.”

— White House official

What’s next

The White House is considering a federal gasoline tax holiday and loosening environmental regulations around summer gasoline to allow higher blends of ethanol in an effort to combat rising energy prices.

The takeaway

Trump's downplaying of rising fuel costs and prioritization of the Iran conflict over addressing the economic concerns of voters highlights the political risks the administration faces as it navigates the fallout from the widening military operation.