On August 14, Donald Trump reiterated his stance on high gasoline prices during a speech to cadets at the New York Police Academy, stating that Americans must accept $4 per gallon to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons.
“The price you pay for your gasoline is the cost of stopping Iran from building a nuclear weapon,” Trump said. “For you to pay a TINY little bit more for your gasoline, you’re doing it so that a very evil country cannot have a nuclear weapon.”
The remarks echoed comments made by the former president in May, when he claimed Americans’ financial situations were not a concern because Iran could not possess nuclear weapons. However, U.S. officials have previously asserted that Iran’s nuclear program was destroyed last year.
Trump also declared that after defeating Iran, he would “declare the Hormuz Strait a territory of the United States.” He added that the U.S. had taken “millions and millions of barrels of oil” from Venezuela due to what he called a “one-day war.”
During his speech in Iowa, Trump told residents that higher gas prices were necessary because the U.S. military had intervened to prevent an Iranian nuclear threat: “If we didn’t hit the B2 bombers … you would’ve had a nuclear weapon.”
The White House has claimed that U.S. forces “obliterated” Iran’s nuclear program during Operation Midnight Hammer in June 2025.
Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi countered Trump’s statements, stating: “The Strait of Hormuz cannot be seized by tweet, nor by aircraft carrier, nor by issuing an order, nor by an election speech. Iran neither fears threats nor cowers before displays of power.”
Polls indicate widespread disapproval of Trump’s approach to Iran policy, with 60.5 percent of Americans disapproving and only 34.8 percent approving. Overall, 58.4 percent of respondents disapprove of Trump’s job performance.
Republican Representative Troy Nehls of Texas defended Trump’s stance on affordability by stating: “I’m gonna go there tomorrow … over the Fourth [of July]. I’m gonna get me a couple of big lobster tails.”
Trump has repeatedly dismissed concerns about economic impacts, saying he does not consider Americans’ financial situations when negotiating with Iran.