Key facts
- President Donald Trump expressed indifference to the Iran war's impact on the upcoming midterm elections.
- A Washington Post-Ipsos poll found only 28% of Americans support the war, with 68% opposing it.
- The war in Iran has cost $37.5 billion so far, with a request for an additional $88 billion in funding.
- Gas prices have increased to over $4 per gallon, a rise from approximately $3 when Trump assumed office.
- A Politico poll indicated that 57% of Maga voters blame the Iran war for increased gas prices.
President Donald Trump has expressed a nonchalant attitude towards the ongoing war in Iran, stating it will not impact him and he is simply doing what he believes is right, regardless of the upcoming midterm elections. This stance comes despite evidence suggesting widespread public disapproval of the conflict and its financial consequences.
A Washington Post-Ipsos poll revealed that only 28% of Americans find the war worth fighting, while 68% disagree. The same poll indicated that a majority of Americans believe the country's global leadership has weakened under Trump's presidency. Furthermore, rising gas prices, which many attribute to the war, are impacting voters' financial well-being, with only 17% reporting being better off financially.
Even staunch supporters within the Maga base are showing signs of discontent. A Politico poll found that 37% of Maga voters believe the war should only continue if costs do not escalate, and 57% blame the conflict for the surge in gas prices. This sentiment has led some Fox News personalities, including Laura Ingraham, to urge Trump to disengage from the war to avoid jeopardizing Republican chances in the midterms.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth informed a Senate hearing that the Iran war has incurred $37.5 billion in costs and requested an additional $88 billion in supplemental funding. With gas prices exceeding $4 per gallon, the escalating financial burden is unlikely to resonate positively with voters. While congressional Republicans may be anxious, Trump, as a second-term president ineligible for re-election and with substantial personal wealth, appears less concerned about the political fallout.