Trump Faces Economic Backlash Over Protracted Iran Conflict

President Donald Trump is facing plummeting approval ratings and domestic political pressure due to a military conflict with Iran that began in February 2026. The war, launched without congressional authorization, has driven national average gas prices to $4.10 a gallon—a more than 37 percent increase—and resulted in the deaths of 18 U.S. service members. While Trump recently canceled planned major attacks in favor of negotiations, he told reporters in the Oval Office that he is "under no time constraint" to end the conflict.

Economic distress has centered on the Strait of Hormuz, a critical energy corridor. Although Trump signed a memorandum of understanding with Iran to reopen the waterway, reports indicate the strait is basically closed again. Trump has publicly criticized oil executives at companies like Chevron and ExxonMobil for profiting from the war, demanding they lower retail prices immediately.

Internally, the administration faces instability. Trump condemned US Attorney Jeanine Pirro after she admitted in court that government errors, not vandalism, damaged the Reflecting Pool. Additionally, acting Attorney General Todd Blanche rescinded a $1.8 billion settlement fund for Trump's supporters to secure his own confirmation. Within Congress, Speaker Mike Johnson and Senator John Kennedy have expressed concerns over the war's direction and its impact on inflation ahead of the midterm elections.