Trump Called Rising Gas Prices “Peanuts,” And People Are Absolutely Furious

    ”I don’t even think about that,” Trump said.

    Donald Trump did little to dissuade people from the idea that he is out of touch with the concerns of everyday Americans during a Tuesday press conference.

    Person speaking at a podium with U.S. flags in the background, wearing a suit and tie, gesturing with hands

    After a reporter asked the president whether he had any plans or initiatives to help stem the high gas prices caused by the current war with Iran, Trump said “there may be” before going off on a tangent about how great things had been before America had to “take a little journey” and “do something with Iran.”

    Person in a suit and tie, standing outdoors, speaking to the press with expressive hand gestures

    “I had gas down to $1.85 in Iowa. I was in Iowa, and the stations had it at $1.85. But I was down to, in many cases, less than two dollars a gallon,” Trump said.

    Person wearing a suit jacket and a baseball cap with "USA" text

    He eventually acknowledged that gas prices have increased since then, but wasn’t exactly contrite. “You want to see the world exploded? You want to see a problem? And this is peanuts.”

    A person in a suit speaks outdoors with a construction crane in the background

    “I appreciate everybody putting up with it for a little while,” Trump continued, promising that “it won’t be much longer ... And frankly, there is so much oil out there. One of the things is these big ships are coming up to Texas, Louisiana and Alaska, and they are loading up.”

    A person with wind-swept hair, mouth open, against a blue sky background

    However, he then admitted that he doesn’t really care about current gas prices.

    Man in suit and yellow tie stands outdoors with an American flag waving in the background

    “But I don’t even think about that. What I think about is you cannot let Iran have a nuclear weapon,” Trump said.

    A person in a suit and tie looks upward with a serious expression against a plain background

    Back in March, the president said he wasn’t worried about waging a war that could wreck the economy because “it’s short-term.” Last week, he admitted, “I don’t think about Americans’ financial situation. I don’t think about anybody. I think about one thing: We cannot let Iran have a nuclear weapon.”

    A person with a light-colored suit appears to be speaking passionately outdoors

    So, naturally, his “this is peanuts” comment did not go over well on social media:

    "Peanuts" isn't how my constituents would describe the spiking gas prices that make everyday life more expensive.@POTUS isn't paying for this war. Middle class Americans are, and he couldn't care less. https://t.co/JLEj4yzy7V

    — Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (@SenatorShaheen) May 19, 2026
    @SenatorShaheen/ C-SPAN /@atrupar

    @GOP's political messaging operation decided to put a sundowning convicted felon in front of the part of the White House he destroyed to tell people their economic troubles are "peanuts." https://t.co/eaSuweCyUo

    — Sean Casten (@SeanCasten) May 19, 2026
    @SeanCasten / C-SPAN / @atrupar

    Gas is projected to cost households over $740 extra this year.

    An extra $740 bill for you = "peanuts" to Donald Trump. https://t.co/UaNx2P6nkx

    — Ways and Means Democrats (@WaysMeansCmte) May 19, 2026
    @waysmeancmte / C-SPAN / @atrupar

    Gas prices when they fall: “Look what I did.”
    Gas prices when they rise: “Why does everyone care so much?” https://t.co/9i3KMg1CJR

    — Patrick De Haan (@GasBuddyGuy) May 19, 2026
    @gasbuddyguy / C-SPAN / @atrupar

    Trump just keeps saying that he doesn’t care about Americans who are suffering as a direct result of his policies. Partly it’s because the core of the GOP base has genuinely gone insane and will put up with anything Trump says or does, including and especially if it’s not in… https://t.co/30RxcpWsAW

    — Pedro L. Gonzalez (@emeriticus) May 19, 2026
    @emeriticus / C-SPAN / @atrupar

    The next time you’re at the gas pump, remember this:

    Trump just said out loud he doesn’t “even think about” your skyrocketing prices. https://t.co/HbWLEG1PrP

    — Katherine Clark (@TeamKClark) May 19, 2026
    @teamkclark / C-SPAN / @atrupar

    Billionaire proving how out of touch he is with 97% of Americans and small businesses. We’re invisible to him and the more than 13 other billionaires in this administration. https://t.co/wnbhMdnFFK

    — Camille MacKenzie (@CamRMacKenzie) May 19, 2026
    @camrmackenzie / C-SPAN / @atrupar

    Peanuts for him. And what’s amazing is that the millions of people who want to one day be him, and never will be, tend to be convinced that it is peanuts, as their disposable income dries up. Truly the ultimate party trick. https://t.co/ct0J5CBFMA

    — David P. Samson (@DavidPSamson) May 19, 2026
    @davidpsamson / C-SPAN / @atrupar

    It's not "peanuts" to working Americans who cannot afford to fill their gas tank. And by the way, even your own CIA said Iran has no weapon and is not developing a weapon. https://t.co/9XfXQ4YcYL

    — Daniel McAdams (@DanielLMcAdams) May 19, 2026
    @daniellmcadams / C-SPAN / @atrupar

    You can watch the interview below.

    View this video on YouTube

    C-SPAN / Via youtube.com

    This article originally appeared on HuffPost.

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